Nadal swats aside Nishikori to seal 11th Monte Carlo crown

Rafael Nadal romped to a record-extending 11th Monte Carlo Masters title by brushing aside an outclassed Kei Nishikori in Sunday's final to retain the world number one ranking. The 31-year-old saw off Nishikori 6-3, 6-2 to become the first man to win a single tournament 11 times in the Open era with his 76th ATP Tour title. Nadal's 31st Masters title is also an outright record, pulling him out of a tie with Novak Djokovic. "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 Nadal, who was playing at his first ATP event since retiring from an Australian Open quarter-final against Marin Cilic with a hip injury in January.

BREAKING: Rafael Nadal has won a record 11th Monte-Carlo Masters title, beating Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-2 in the final. #SSN pic.twitter.com/zb8DRDOnZa

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 22, 2018

"So I'm just enjoying every day and trying to play with the best attitude possible, to keep being happy playing tennis." The 16-time Grand Slam champion's era of utter dominance on clay looks unlikely to end any time soon after Nadal took his run of consecutive sets won on the surface to 36. Nadal had to win the tournament to remain at the top of the world rankings ahead of Roger Federer, who is skipping the clay-court season, and he did just that without losing more than five games in a match. The Spaniard will next set his sights on an 11th Barcelona Open victory next week, and it is hard to see anyone preventing him from extending his record number of 10 French Open titles at Roland Garros at the end of the clay-court season.

Ya en Barcelona !!!! Gracias a todos por los mensajes. Fue una semana especial!!! #feliz . Thanks to all for your messages from Barcelona !!!! What a great week it was! #happy #MonteCarlo #nowinbcn pic.twitter.com/2KfT4PEu2D

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 22, 2018

He was pushed by Japan's Nishikori early on and fell a break down, but roared back against an opponent who already appeared beaten midway through the first set. "My legs were very heavy today, playing three sets three days in a row, playing with tough players. It wasn't easy physically, obviously," admitted Nishikori after playing seven more sets than Nadal in the tournament. It was still an excellent week for the former world number four, who only returned from a four-month absence with a right wrist injury in January and will rise from his current ranking of 36 to the brink of the top 20. "Tough day today playing Rafa. He was a little too good today," added the 28-year-old.

Rafa Nadal has now won 76 career titles. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Seventy-six. ? pic.twitter.com/zPk6BK0zEC

— bet365 (@bet365) April 22, 2018

"But I think I've been playing well this week, and I think I'm almost there." Nadal got on the board with a strong service hold, before quickly putting Nishikori under pressure as a flicked passing shot brought up break point. But the Spaniard missed a forehand up the line by a matter of millimetres, with Nishikori clinging on after an 11-minute game that left him looking physically exhausted. But that hold showed Nadal, who first won the event in 2005, that his opponent was up for the fight.

Rafael Nadal wins his 11th title in Monte Carlo, setting a men's Open Era record for the most titles in a single event, a mark he can tie by winning Barcelona or the French Open. It's the 15th straight season Nadal has won a singles title, tying Roger Federer's Open Era record. pic.twitter.com/AV7yWM7kIS

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 22, 2018

The top seed was even displaying rare signs of nerves, and Nishikori broke for a 2-1 lead with a backhand up the line after a Nadal double fault. But he failed to build on that glimmer of an opening, double faulting himself on break-back point. That costly error knocked the early aggression out of Nishikori's groundstrokes, and Nadal sped through the next two games to take command of the first set. Nishikori forced a break point in the seventh game but fired long with the court wide open as Nadal kept his nose in front.

Nadal has now won 36 consecutive sets on clay, breaking his personal record of 32. ?#RolexMCMasters pic.twitter.com/57R8PeSKLn

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 22, 2018

He struggled a little to serve out the opener, but although Nishikori saved one set point with an exquisite backhand volley, Nadal clinched it on the second with a punch of the air celebrating a pair of blistering forehands. Nishikori was staring down the barrel of defeat at the start of the second set, but staved off a break point to hold serve. But the last rites had long been written, and Nadal broke to 15 in each of the Japanese's next two service games to close on victory. The greatest player to ever step foot on a clay court secured his 24th Masters title on the surface with a venomous backhand that flew past the hapless Nishikori.