CAMELOT FANTASIES

Buenos Aires: Nadal with Vilas in his sights

Monday, March 2, 2015 By Myrtille Rambion

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/articles/2015-03-02/201503021425319159002.html

Rafael Nadal won his 46th title on clay on Sunday, inflicting a 6-4, 6-1 defeat on Juan Monaco in the final to close in on Guillermo Vilas’ record on the surface.

Having a friend as your opponent on the other side of the net combined with a threat of inclement weather might put plenty of lesser mortals off their game, mentally even more so than physically. But it takes more than that to shake Rafael Nadal – particular now that the Matador from Manacor seems to be getting back to his form of old.

On Centre Court at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club on Sunday, Nadal could have caught a cold, not least due to the rain which delayed the start by two hours and then halted play at 1-1 in the first set. And then there was his adversary, namely his good buddy on and off court Juan Monaco.

This however did nothing to halt the Majorcan in his quest for his maiden 2015 title, and indeed the first since last year’s French Open. Nadal brushed the Argentinean aside in two very straight sets, 6-4, 6-1 in just 86 minutes. This was Rafa’s 65th title on the circuit and 46th on clay, putting him three behind Guillermo Vilas who came along to watch the Spaniard get that little bit nearer his record.
I’m absolutely delighted because I hadn’t won a tournament in so long," said Nadal, who returns to the No.3 spot in the rankings on the back of this victory. "I hoped I’d win and I did everything I could to prepare properly, and in the end I achieved my goal." That goal however was a short-term one – the main aim of this #RGClay season will doubtless be an incredible tenth title at Roland Garros in a few months’ time…

"Winning trophies helps me to carry on," added Nadal, who only returned to the circuit at the Australian Open in January after suffering from wrist problems combined with an operation to remove his appendix. "My injuries are in the past now and I don’t have any physical issues anymore," he added. "The older you get, the harder it is to come back from injury, but I don’t see why I shouldn’t manage it. I have the motivation and the passion."