ATP: Nadal fights for the record, Nishikori for the premiere

Rafael Nadal is not only going for his eleventh title in the Monte Carlo finale (2:30 pm, live on SKY and in our LIVETICKER), he could also overtake Novak Djokovic. For Kei Nishikori, the victory would be a first at Masters 1000 level.

Rafael Nadal is not a good loser, otherwise he would not be where the record books and the world ranking list of the ATP show him. If there was a defeat, however, with which Nadal could live reasonably well, then perhaps in the match for the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro: Firstly, because the Spaniard had already been decorated with gold eight years earlier in Beijing. And then Nadal had already won the most beautiful precious metal at the Sugar Loaf with Marc Lopez.

Bronze in Rio went to Kei Nishikori. In the last game of the two final protagonists of Monte Carlo 2018, which begins under clear signs: Nadal can take the lead from Novak Djokovic with a victory and thus his 31st title in this tournament category and write to Nishikori for the first time.

Nadal and Nishikori have played against each other eleven times, the Japanese player could only win a match in Montréal 2015 besides the Olympic coup. Like in Rio on hard court. On ashes there were three matches, most likely Nishikori had a surprise in Madrid in 2014: The Japanese won the first set 6-2 sovereignly, but after losing the second set had to give up in the third set because of back pain.

Both players were only sporadically present on the ATP tour last fall, especially Nishikori had to take a longer break. And returned to the USA not at the Australian Open in 2018, but at two Challengers. Nadal ventured rather timidly to tournaments after the Laver Cup, dropped out earlier at the ATP final in London.

The conditions for the two finalists could hardly be more different in Monte Carlo: While Nadal has not yet surrendered a set (and is now on ashes after winning 26 games in a row), Nishikori struggled in the last two days to win two sets of three against Marin Cilic and Alexander Zverev.

And while the final at the Monte Carlo Country Club is completely new territory for the Japanese player, Nadal fills the dozen with his performance today. And can take his eleventh title.