Rafael Nadal Wins Monte Carlo for Record 11th Time - Mondays with Bob Greene

Mondays with Bob Greene

STARS

Rafael Nadal beat Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-2 to win the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in Monte Carlo, Monaco

Zheng Saisai beat Wang Yafan 5-7 6-2 6-1 to win the Biyuan Cop Zhengzhou Women’s Tennis Open in Zhengzhou, China

Hugo Dellien beat Facundo Bagnis 2-6 6-4 6-2 to win the 2018 Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open in Sarasota, Florida, USA

FED CUP

World Group

Semifinals

Czech Republic beat Germany 4-1 at Stuttgart, Germany

United States beat France 3-2 at Aix-en-Provence, France

Playoffs

Belarus beat Slovakia 3-2 at Minsk, Belarus

Romania beat Switzerland 3-1 at Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Australia beat Netherlands 4-1 at Wollongong, Australia

Belgium beat Italy 4-0 at Genoa, Italy

WORLD GROUP II, Playoff

Latvia beat Russia 3-2 at Khanty-Manslysk, Russia; Spain beat Paraguay 3-1 at Cartagena, Murcia, Spain; Canada beat Ukraine 3-2 at Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Japan beat Great Britain 3-1 at Miki, Japan

SAYING

“Eleven titles here, it’s unbelievable. It’s something difficult to imagine. The history with this tournament is unique.” – Rafael Nadal, after winning his record-extending 11^th Monte-Carlo title.

“Tough day today playing Rafa. He was a little too good today. But I think I’ve been playing well this week, and I think I’m almost there.” – Kei Nishikori, after losing the Monte-Carlo final to Rafael Nadal.

“I feel relieved. It was a very tough tie. It was an outstanding performance from each of the (singles) winners. The tennis was unbelievable.” – Petr Pala, Czech Republic Fed Cup captain.

“Everyone knows that if Petra plays well and she has her rhythm, she is tough to beat. That’s why she has won two Grand Slams and why she has been at the tope of the game for such a long time.” – Angelique Kerber, after losing to Petra Kvitova as the Czech Republic beat Germany in a Fed Cup semifinal.

“Yes, this was my last as Fed Cup captain. There is no changing my mind. I’m going to miss it clearly. We have a beautiful group. I love my team. I love Fed Cup. It’s such an honor with so much passion. But one day you have to move on and I’ve other projects, other dreams, and I have my family.” – Yannick Noah, French Fed Cup captain.

“I had to conquer my Fed Cup losing streak here and get another good win.” – Sloane Stephens, following her win over Kristina Mladenovic as the United States beat France in their Fed Cup semifinal.

“It’s horrendous, it’s terrible.” – Olga Savchuk, Ukraine Fed Cup captain on her team falling back to the zonal group next year.

“There are a lot of things that I need to get better at and improve on. But looking at the overall picture, the overall beginning of this year … first thing is that I’m healthy. I’m not starting from zero, there’s a lot to build from. Personally, that’s important for me.” – Maria Sharapova.

STREAK REACHES 11

The King of Clay showed his dominance again, easily winning his 11^th Monte Carlo Masters, then talking about his future. “I know the day to say goodbye is closer than 10 years ago. Is something that I am not worried about, but it’s a real thing,” said the Spaniard, who was playing in his first tournament since retiring from an Australian Open quarterfinal in January with a hip injury. “So, I’m just enjoying every day and trying to play with the best attitude possible, to keep being happy playing tennis.” The 31-year-old left-hander crushed Japan’s Kei Nishikori in straight sets to become the first man to win a tournament 11 times in the Open era. His 31^st Masters title is also a record, breaking a tie he had with Novak Djokovic. Nadal’s 24^th clay court Masters title also was his 76^th ATP World Tour crown. By winning, Nadal also retained his world number one ranking. “My legs were very heavy today, playing three sets three days in a row, playing with tough players,” Nishikori said. “It wasn’t easy physically, obviously.”

STOPS COMPATRIOT

In a battle of Chinese players, unseeded Zheng Saisai rallied to defeat Wang Yafan to capture the Biyuan Cup Zhengzhou Women’s Tennis Open. Zheng was up a double break in the opening set when Wang went on a tear, winning it 7-5. Zheng wasn’t about to let that happen again as she backed up early breaks in the next two sets while dropping only three more games It was Zheng’s first title since her comeback and her second 125k crown. The 24-year-old champion dropped just one set en route to the final, winning four sets at love. Zheng started the week by beating second-seeded Peng Shuai. Wang lost only one set before falling to Zheng.

Wang didn’t leave Zhengzhou empty-handed. She teamed with Duan Yingying to win the doubles title, stopping Naomi Broady and Yanina Wickmayer in the final.

SEIZES SPOT IN FINAL

US Open champion Sloane Stephens won both of her singles matches and Madison Keyes clinched the victory to sent the United States back to the final and defend its Fed Cup title. The Americans, who defeated France 3-2, will meet the Czech Republic for the title. The Czechs beat Germany 4-1. “’The girls did so well, both today and yesterday,” US captain Kathy Rinaldi said. “We are very fortunate to have such a strong group and now we are looking forward to what is going to be a great final.” Keys, replacing Coco Vandeweghe in the reverse singles, rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the first set and beat France’s Pauline Parmentier 7-6 (4) 6-4 to give the Americans an unbeatable 3-1 lead. The French salvaged some pride when Amandine Hesse and Kristina Mladenovic beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Vandeweghe 6-4 3-6 10-6 (match tiebreak) in the doubles. Stephens crushed Mladenovic 6-2 6-0 to put the United States ahead 2-1. “That was a really good one,” Stephens said. “You never anticipate a score line like the way it turned out, but it was really solid.” Sloane began the best-of-five competition by edging Parmentier 7-6 (3) 7-5. Then France knotted the score 1-1 when Mladenovic overcame Vandeweghe 1-6 6-3 6-2. The Americans have beaten France 12 times in their 14 Fed Cup meetings.

SIXTH FINAL IN EIGHT YEARS

Petra Kvitova powered her way over former world number one Angelique Kerber 6-2 6-2 as the Czech Republic stopped Germany 4-1 and grabbed a spot in the Fed Cup final for the sixth time in eight years. “I am very relieved,” Kvitova said after her victory over Kerber. “I was getting nervous before this game. … I knew we still needed one point from our last two games and I just did my best.” Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon winner, began the tie by crushing Julia Goerges 6-3 6-2 before Karolina Pliskova beat Kerber 7-5 6-3, giving the Czech Republic a 2-0 lead. But Goerges gave Germany a boost, beating Pliskova 6-4 6-2, setting the stage for Kerber to knot the best-of-five tie. It was not to be. “It will take a while to get over it,” Kerber admitted. “We all know that was a great opportunity for us. Barbora Strycova and Katherina Siniakova won the doubles when Goerges, playing alongside Anna-Lena Groenefeld, retired hurt after the Czechs won the first set 7-5. The Czechs will take on the United States in the final.

SET FOR BARCELONA

Novak Djokovic, saying he is pain-free for the first time in two years, will continue his comeback at this week’s Barcelona Open. In his last tournament, Djokovic was beaten by Austria’s Dominic Thiem in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters. Barcelona will be on the fifth tournament Djokovic has played since Wimbledon last summer. He missed the last half of last year with a right elbow injury.

SENIORS DOING IT

Twins Bob and Mike Bryan won their sixth Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters doubles title, stopping Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic in the final. It was the Americans’ 38^th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy and their record 116^th tour-level team title. Monte-Carlo was the fourth consecutive tournament in which the Bryans reached the final and winning the Miami Open. The brothers have now won multiple titles in each of their past 18 seasons.

SICK BAY

Nick Kyrgios is hoping a cortisone injection in his elbow will allow him to get fit enough in time to play the French Open. The injury is forcing the Australian to miss clay court events in Estoril, Portugal, and Madrid, Spain. Kyrgios said he has been suffering the injury since he played Davis Cup against Germany in February. Since then he has played just two events. “I have done everything in my power to overcome this organically through rehabs, rest and treatment, but have still been suffering with pain,” Kyrgios said on Twitter. “I have been unable to ply anywhere near the level I need to be at to compete at the highest levels. I have now taken the advice of my physio and doctors to have a cortisone injection directly into the elbow.”

STUTTGART RETURN

For the second straight year, Maria Sharapova will play the Porsche Tennis Classic. Last year the Stuttgart, Germany, event marked her return to tennis after service a 15-month drug ban for use of the illegal mediation meldonium. Sharapova won the event three straight years, 2012-2014. Last year she reached the semifinals, where she lost to Kristina Mladenovic of France. Sharapova is trying to find her winning game before the French Open. Because of her arm problem, the Russian has played just nine matches in 2018. She lost in the first round at Doha in February, withdrew from Dubai and was ousted in the first round at Indian Wells by eventual winner Naomi Osaka of Japan.

SCOTTISH START?

There’s a possibility that Andy Murray could begin his comeback in his native Scotland. The former world number one, who underwent hip surgery in January, is considering playing in a new ATP Challenger tournament being played at Glasgow’s Scotstoun Tennis Centre the week of April 28. Murray hasn’t played competitively since Wimbledon last year.

SWISS MASTER

Swiss tennis great Roger Federer appears on the cover of Time for the magazine’s annual 100 Most Influential People issue. The 36-year-old has won three of the last five Grand Slam tournaments, including the Australian Open in January. He holds a men’s record 20 Grand Slam tournament titles in February became the oldest player to be ranked number one in the world. The magazine extolls Federer’s accomplishments on and off the court, noting that he has donated more than USD $36 million to help children in six African countries as well as Switzerland. Six other athletes made the list: Kevin Durant of the NBA Golden State Warriors; J.J. Watt of the NFL Houston Texans; Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon, Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim, cricket player Virat Kohli and gymnast Rachael Denhollander.

STREAMING US OPEN

E-commerce giant Amazon signed a five-year deal that will mean the US Open will become the first Grand Slam tournament to be broadcast solely online in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The deal with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) begins with this year’s tournament. Matches will be available to be seen live and on demand for members of Amazon Prime Video, it’s internet video service. Amazon will also broadcast 37 ATP World Tour events, including nine Masters tournaments, beginning in 2019.

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Monte Carlo: Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan beat Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic 7-6 (5) 6-3

Sarasota: Evan King and Hunter Reese beat Christian Harrison and Peter Polansky 6-1 6-2

Zhengzhou: Duan Yingying and Wang Yafan beat Naomi Broady and Yanina Wickmayer 7-6 (5) 6-3

SURFING

Barcelona: www.barcelonaopenbancsabadell.com/en/

Istanbul: http://istopen.net/

Munich: http://bmwopen.de/tickets/

Estoril: http://millenniumestorilopen.com/en/

Istanbul: www.mobilet.com/bucket-event/teb-paribas-istanbul-cup-1001

Glasgow: www.lta.org.uk/major-events/glasgow/

Prague: www.jtbopen.cz/cs/