Buenos Aires, Argentina (SportsNetwork.com) – Rafael Nadal won a clay court
title for the 46th time in his career, beating Juan Monaco in straight sets
Sunday in the final of the Argentina Open.
Playing in the tournament for the first time in 10 years, the top-seeded Nadal
didn’t drop a set and lost 19 games in his four matches.
The start of the final was delayed by rain, then again when the first set was
tied 1-1.
Nadal fired the match’s only ace and won four of his nine break points in a
6-4, 6-1 win at Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club that took 86 minutes.
He captured his 65th career ATP title overall and improved to 6-1 all-time
against Monaco, the only loss coming at the 2007 ATP Masters tournament in
Cincinnati when he retired during the second set because of knee and wrist
injuries.
Nadal earned $91,050 for Sunday’s win and Monaco, the 2007 Buenos Aires champ,
took home $47,950.