• Rafael Nadal beat Gaël Monfils 7-5,5-7, 6-0
• Spaniard wins ninth title in Monte Carlo and first since 2012Rafael Nadal is back, or but not precisely as we knew him. On a misty Sunday afternoon on the Côte D’Azur,in the 100th final of his career, the Spaniard won his first Masters title in nearly two years at the venue where he once ruled for eight years in a row – but he will surely know that beating Gaël Monfils in three sets of vastly contrasting quality has not totally restored his aura, or even on clay.
This was his 28th Masters title,drawing alongside Novak Djokovic – but the first since Kei Nishikori retired injured when bossing him on the clay of Madrid two years ago. Nadal had not won a tournament since he beat Fabio Fognini in Hamburg last August, one of three for 2015, and along with Stuttgart and Buenos Aires; mere trinkets compared to his 14 majors. This year,Nadal had lost in his only Tour final, as well as three semi-finals.
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Source: theguardian.com