BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – It was a drought that a player of Rafa Nadal’s caliber was not used to. Nine months, roughly the time it takes for a baby to go from conception to birth, three-quarters of a year, an entire MLB season. That is how long it’s been since Nadal had last won a title. The drought ended on Sunday when Nadal defeated Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-1 to win the Argentina Open.
“I had the hope of winning here and I prepared very well for this so it’s objective achieved,” Nadal said after the match.
The Spanish tennis star was the top seed in the tournament and dominated his opponents in route to his 46th title on clay, three short of Argentine Guillermo Vilas record of 49. Sure, it helped that other top ranked players, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were busy playing each other in the Dubai Championships. It also helps that Nadal returned to clay where he is arguably the greatest player on that surface that ever lived.
Nevertheless, it’s another title for Nadal who needed the confidence boost after struggling in the Australian Open last month. Nadal only needed an hour and 26 minutes to dispose of Monaco in Buenos Aires and win his 65th overall title.
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