Notice how Federer 1) admits lefty player will always trouble him 2) trash talks Nadal's serve
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Feat of clay: Nadal handles Federer again
No. 2-seeded Spaniard wins Monte Carlo Masters for 42nd straight clay win
Claude Paris / AP
Rafael Nadal won his second consecutive Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday, beating rival Roger Federer 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Updated: 3:03 p.m. ET April 23, 2006
MONTE CARLO, Monaco - Rafael Nadal beat top-ranked Roger Federer 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (5) Sunday to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the second straight year.
The second-ranked Spaniard extended his winning streak on clay to 42 matches, beating the seven-time Grand Slam champion for the second time this year. Federer, who had 78 unforced errors on his least-favorite surface, is now 28-2.
“It’s very special for me to defend the title,” Nadal said. “Beating Federer in a final is special, too. I was very aggressive with my forehand and I had a good touch.”
Nadal overcame a 3-0 deficit in the fourth-set tiebreaker and won the match with a forehand pass that bounced on the line.
“Congratulations and well played to Rafael,” Federer said. “I still had a great tournament, even though it did not end in a win. He totally deserved it.”
Nadal used his big forehand to pressure Federer on his weaker backhand, and the tactic frustrated Federer.
“He’s a lefty, so I’m always going to have problems,” Federer said.
Federer has lost the last four of five matches against Nadal, who beat him in the final at Dubai earlier this year and at the French Open semifinal last June.
“I enjoyed the battle against him,” Federer said. “I have answered some questions I had about how to play on clay.”
He would not say what those questions were, but feels he is “getting closer” to matching Nadal on clay.
Federer appeared in his 12th consecutive final, but his winning run in Masters series matches ended at 29. His previous Masters loss came against Richard Gasquet of France at the Monte Carlo semifinals last year.
Nadal won his second title of the season. He is four behind Bjorn Borg’s streak of 46 consecutive wins on clay. Guillermo Vilas leads with 53.
“This is good for me, to be third in history on clay,” Nadal said. “One day I’m going to lose. I hope it’s not next week (in Barcelona).”
Nadal also matched Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero’s feat of back-to-back titles in 2002-03 at Monte Carlo.
Federer started with a string of erratic shots that helped Nadal race to a 4-0 lead.
Federer finished with twice as many unforced errors as his opponent, and his first-set loss was the largest margin this season. His previous worst sets were 3-6 against Olivier Rochus, Nikolay Davydenko and Tommy Haas.
“I don’t care about the unforced errors, as I had no choice but to attack him,” Federer said. “I’m going to make errors because I’m the guy pressing.”
Nadal struggled throughout on serve, and Federer was upset that he converted only 4-of-18 break opportunities.
“That is a stat I care about,” Federer said. “He does not have a great serve. The outcome of the match could have been a lot different.”
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Feat of clay: Nadal handles Federer again
No. 2-seeded Spaniard wins Monte Carlo Masters for 42nd straight clay win
Claude Paris / AP
Rafael Nadal won his second consecutive Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday, beating rival Roger Federer 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Updated: 3:03 p.m. ET April 23, 2006
MONTE CARLO, Monaco - Rafael Nadal beat top-ranked Roger Federer 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (5) Sunday to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the second straight year.
The second-ranked Spaniard extended his winning streak on clay to 42 matches, beating the seven-time Grand Slam champion for the second time this year. Federer, who had 78 unforced errors on his least-favorite surface, is now 28-2.
“It’s very special for me to defend the title,” Nadal said. “Beating Federer in a final is special, too. I was very aggressive with my forehand and I had a good touch.”
Nadal overcame a 3-0 deficit in the fourth-set tiebreaker and won the match with a forehand pass that bounced on the line.
“Congratulations and well played to Rafael,” Federer said. “I still had a great tournament, even though it did not end in a win. He totally deserved it.”
Nadal used his big forehand to pressure Federer on his weaker backhand, and the tactic frustrated Federer.
“He’s a lefty, so I’m always going to have problems,” Federer said.
Federer has lost the last four of five matches against Nadal, who beat him in the final at Dubai earlier this year and at the French Open semifinal last June.
“I enjoyed the battle against him,” Federer said. “I have answered some questions I had about how to play on clay.”
He would not say what those questions were, but feels he is “getting closer” to matching Nadal on clay.
Federer appeared in his 12th consecutive final, but his winning run in Masters series matches ended at 29. His previous Masters loss came against Richard Gasquet of France at the Monte Carlo semifinals last year.
Nadal won his second title of the season. He is four behind Bjorn Borg’s streak of 46 consecutive wins on clay. Guillermo Vilas leads with 53.
“This is good for me, to be third in history on clay,” Nadal said. “One day I’m going to lose. I hope it’s not next week (in Barcelona).”
Nadal also matched Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero’s feat of back-to-back titles in 2002-03 at Monte Carlo.
Federer started with a string of erratic shots that helped Nadal race to a 4-0 lead.
Federer finished with twice as many unforced errors as his opponent, and his first-set loss was the largest margin this season. His previous worst sets were 3-6 against Olivier Rochus, Nikolay Davydenko and Tommy Haas.
“I don’t care about the unforced errors, as I had no choice but to attack him,” Federer said. “I’m going to make errors because I’m the guy pressing.”
Nadal struggled throughout on serve, and Federer was upset that he converted only 4-of-18 break opportunities.
“That is a stat I care about,” Federer said. “He does not have a great serve. The outcome of the match could have been a lot different.”
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
