Doha: Rafael Nadal at last made a title-winning start to a year when he held off Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 to clinch the Qatar Open on Saturday.
It was world number one Nadal's 61st career title and took him to eighth on the all-time list, passing Andre Agassi. "I never had the chance to win here before. I had match points against Davydenko in the final a few years back," said Nadal, who was runner-up to Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in 2010. "I'm happy to start the season like this, it's the first time I have won a title in the first week of the year and it's a great way to start the season."
Nadal took his record over Monfils to 9-2 with the Frenchman having achieved both his wins over the Spaniard in Doha, in 2009 and 2012. It was a fine start for Nadal to a year in which he hopes to ward off Novak Djokovic's challenge for the world number one spot, and in a month when he hopes to regain the Australian Open title after a five-year interval.
His standard rose increasingly as the two-hour contest wore on, and his baseline rallying gradually became tenaciously indestructible, its peak coming in the fourth and fifth games of the final set. This was when he made a crucial break of Monfils' serve, and followed it by recovering from love-40 down to saving five break points altogether and consolidate his match-winning lead.
That fifth game was punctuated by moments of drama when Monfils thought he had earned a sixth break back point, only for a line judge to call Nadal's over-hit backhand drive in. TV replays confirmed that the shot was indeed out, but Monfils had missed his chance to appeal to the Hawkeye video replay system because he had continued the rally for another stroke.
"A title is always a title especially in the first week when I have never won before," added Nadal. "I started to see some great play from Gael, and if he (continues to) play like this he has a good chance of reaching the top ten."
Two days ago Monfils defeated title-holder Richard Gasquet and altogether scored four express victories which did indeed suggest that for the Guadeloupe-born Frenchman the best, at the age of 27, may yet lie ahead.
In the first 25 minutes on Saturday, Monfils was too nervous to do himself justice, and it was not until the first game of the second set that he began to get going. Monfils followed it with some brilliant inside out forehand driving which earned him a break of serve, and became really excited when he saved two break back points to reach 4-1.
After that he became extremely dangerous, serving ferociously, often rallying intelligently, and always capable of delivering a bombshell winner. Although Nadal characteristically worked his way back to parity Monfils produced a wonderful angled return on the sixth point of the tie-break which earned a mini-break that won him the second set.
"The crowd and the court here are unbelievable and I just feel very good here," said Monfils, who was playing his third final in Doha after losing to Roger Federer in 2006 and compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2012.
"I started very slow, but Rafa put me under pressure from the first point and I had not played any matches like this, this week. It was tough to adjust.
"I just hung around a little bit and waited for the second set, and then I played stronger. It was a battle."
Nadal's praise of the final went further than that. "It's a very special moment," he said, grateful perhaps that despite his injury-restricted off-season schedule he is beginning to play to a high level already.
"It was important to survive, and it was a pretty tough win against a tough opponent. I am very glad to start (the season) like this."
Venus Williams drops out of Hobart ahead of Australian Open
Venus Williams drops out of Hobart ahead of Australian Open
Hobart: Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams pulled out of the Hobart International Sunday to give herself a full rest and recovery ahead of this month's Australian Open.
Williams, ranked 47 in the world, dropped out of the Hobart tournament after losing the Auckland Classic in a marathon three-set final to Ana Ivanovic on Saturday. "After a long week during my first tournament of the year, my body needs time to rest and recover," Williams said, announcing her withdrawal.
"Unfortunately, I am not able to play this week in Hobart. I was looking forward to playing in Tasmania and I sincerely do hope to play there in the coming years."
Williams, 33, has not won a title since October 2012, and Auckland was her first appearance in a WTA final since then. Her last Grand Slam win was in 2008. The former world number one is seeking to rejoin the game's elite after two years marred by auto-immune disease and injury. Williams was to be among the Hobart International's star attractions and her withdrawal is a blow for the tournament.
"I know it was a hard decision and we wish her the best of luck for the Australian Open," said tournament director Mark Handley.
Williams is expected to travel straight to Melbourne for practice ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on January 13.
Monfils withdraws from Heineken Open
Monfils withdraws from Heineken Open
AUCKLAND: Gael Monfils has withdrawn from next week's Heineken Open ATP tennis tournament in Auckland, citing fatigue.
The 31-ranked Frenchman, who was to be the tournaments seventh seed, told organizers Sunday he would be unable to play after losing to Rafael Nadal in three sets in the final of the Qatar Open.
Fourth-seeded South African Kevin Anderson is also an uncertain starter after pulling out of the Brisbane International with a virus which caused him to spend two nights in hospital. He is not due to play his first singles until Wednesday.
Third-seeded American John Isner has an ankle injury and has told organizers he will provide them with a fitness update later Sunday.
