Nadal makes it ten

Rafa Nadal made history on Sunday when he won his 10th Monte Carlo Masters title, a modern-day record for any player at an event to really re-enforce the Spaniard from Mallorca status as the King of Clay.

To win 10 times in such an important event like Monte-Carlo is something difficult to describe

The final between two clay court experts, was not a classic as NadalŠ—Ès top spinning balls proved just too much for his compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas who lasted just 76-minutes on the court before being swept aside 6-1 6-3.

For the past year, Nadal and the Argentine Guillermo Vilas, have stood equal at 49 clay court titles each but now the Spaniard has edged to the top of the table having recorded his fiftieth.

"It’s really unbelievable," he said after receiving the trophy with the ball-kids lined-up on court in the shape of a Š—…10Š—È to mark the occasion. "To win 10 times in such an important event like Monte-Carlo is something difficult to describe. Every year has been a different feeling. At the same, it’s always a unique moment every time I have this trophy with me.

"I feel lucky to keep playing tennis, being healthy all these years and to compete in one of the most beautiful events of the year. Very happy to win another one. It’s a very important day in my career."

At no point during the final was he ever threatened. He didnŠ—Èt face a single breakpoint but held 11 on Ramos-Vinolas serve, breaking his opponent twice in each set.

He broke for a 3-1 lead in the first set, winning the next three games as well to close it out and in the second, broke for 3-2, completing his victory with his second break of the set with the final unfortunately settled by a double-fault on his third match point.