The reigning ATP World Tour Champion captured his first Monte- Carlo Masters title on Sunday with a 6-2, 7-6 (1) victory over third seed Rafael Nadal of Spain in one hour and 52 minutes to win his eighth different Masters 1000 crown.
The win makes it his third title of the season and his 14th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy. That leaves the Western and Southern Open in Cincinatti the only event he has yet to win.
Novak has now won 37 trophies. Appearing in his 56th ATP World Tour level final in the 34th encounter between him and Nadal, Djokovic seized control in brilliant fashion.
The Serbian took advantage by gaining service breaks in the second and fourth games and raced to a 5- 0 lead. In the sixth game, he missed five break/set points and got broken in the next when serving for the set. Djokovic made a third break when Nadal double faulted on Novak’s eight set point.
Nadal made a break in the fifth game of the second set and consolidated it to go 4- 2 up. Nole regained his composure, played a superb game, with backhand, forehand and service winners to hold to love and then broke back to level the result. In the eleventh game, he was broken again but found strength to fight back once more with Spaniard serving for the set. Djokovic saved the best for last, taking the tie- break 7- 1to end Nadal’s reign of 46 straight wins and eight consecutive titles in Monte Carlo, third time lucky after finishing runner- up to the Spaniard in 2009 and 2012.
“It’s a great pleasure to be here. It’s a magnificent moment, very, very, special, because I live here and have a lot of support,” the Serbian said at the trophy ceremony. “Rafa, it was a pleasure once again. Thank you for letting me win at least once. I cannot wish for a better start of the clay season. I spend a lot of time in Monaco so I know a lot of people, we became friends over many years, and it’s definitely the most beautiful club in the world. I’m very privileged to be playing in it. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play this year. Right now it’s the best decision of my life!”
Djokovic who has spent 77 weeks at No. 1, improved to 26- 2 on the season with other championship successes coming at the Australian Open and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
