Google News Canada Flashback: Rafael Nadal wins 35th Masters 1000 title over Daniil Medvedev
by JOVICA ILIC | VIEW 14285
Rafael Nadal claimed the first hard-court ATP title at the Canada Masters in Montreal in 2005 at 19. Fourteen years later, Nadal returned to Montreal in 2019 and secured the fifth Canada Open trophy, defending the title won 12 months earlier in Toronto.
In the title clash, the Spaniard toppled an in-form Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-0 in 70 minutes for his 35th Masters 1000 crown and 83rd overall. Medvedev was a player to beat in the previous two weeks, competing on a very high level in Washington and Montreal.
He reached two finals and lost them to Nick Kyrgios and Nadal in his first Masters 1000 title clash. Having a day off on Saturday, Rafa stepped on the court determined to give his best against the dangerous rival and claim the first title since Roland Garros.
The Spaniard did everything right on the court and left Daniil far behind in the most one-sided final at this event since 1984! Serving at 72%, Nadal lost only 11 points behind the initial shot, fending off one break point in the encounter's first game and never experiencing troubles again.
The pressure was on Daniil, and he could not deal with it. The Russian lost half of the points in his games and got broken four times from eight chances offered to Nadal. Medvedev grabbed half of the return games before the title clash, unable to repeat that against Rafa and offer the crown a more exciting match.
The Spaniard had 12 winners and 13 unforced errors. In comparison, the Russian counted ten winners and 22 mistakes, missing equally from both wings.
Rafael Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev en route to fifth Canada Open title in 2019.
They stayed close in the quickest points up to four strokes.
Rafa had the upper hand in the most extended exchanges, taking 30 out of 40 to control the pace and bring the victory home without any problems. Nadal repelled that lone break chance in the encounter's first game with a service winner and closed it when Daniil sprayed a backhand error.
Medvedev held in game two with an ace before ruining all that two games later when he hit a double fault to propel Rafa 3-1 in front. Nadal confirmed the lead with a hold at love after a service winner and wasted a break chance at 4-1 that could have pushed him further ahead.
A forehand down the line winner sent Nadal 5-2 up. He held at 30 after landing a perfect forehand down the line winner to close the set in 40 minutes. Daniil netted a forehand in the second set's first game to fall behind and sprayed another error in game two to push Nadal further in front.
The Russian fired a backhand wide in game three to experience another break and fell 4-0 behind after a terrible forehand. The Spaniard opened a 5-0 gap following his opponent's forced error at the net. He moved over the top with a hold at 15 minutes later to celebrate the 35th Masters 1000 crown.
