Monte Carlo Masters 2021: Rafael Nadal’s expected path to a record 12th title

Monte Carlo Masters 2021: Rafael Nadal’s expected path to a record 12th title

Rafael Nadal with the Monte Carlo Masters trophy

The Clay season has begun and the focus has again shifted on one man- Rafael Nadal. Since the beginning of the Masters 1000 event in 1990, only six men have won 11 or more ATP Masters 1000 titles. One of those, Rafael Nadal, has remarkably achieved that feat at a single event-The Monte Carlo Masters.

The Spanish World No. 3 has won the Monte Carlo Masters 11 times has won 71 of his 76 matches at the event. Since his tournament debut as a 16-year-old in 2003, when he defeated reigning Roland Garros champion Albert Costa to reach the third round, Nadal has consistently produced his best tennis at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal

The ‘King of Clay’ won an Open-Era record eight successive titles from 2005 to 2012 and a further three straight crowns from 2016 to 2018. And now in 2021, Nadal will return to the Principality to win his 12th title.

Rafael Nadal’s path to a record 12th win

Rafael Nadal in action at the Monte Carlo Masters
Rafael Nadal

There is no point in debating that whichever tournament Nadal plays on Clay, he will go in as a big favorite and such is the case with Monte Carlo. Rafa starts favorite in 2021 and has a fairly easy initial draw.

Nadal has been given a first round bye due to his seeding. In the second round, he will meet the winner of Adrian Mannarino and a Qualifier. He is likely to face 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the Round of 16. The other possible opponents for Rafa in the 3rd Round are Jan-Lennard Struff, Jeremy Chardy or Alexander Bublik.

In the Quarter-Final, he is drawn alongside 6th seed Andrey Rublev and could very well face the Russian. The other seeded player in Nadal’s draw is fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.

The semi-finals will prove to be a major test for Rafa. According to seeding, he is to play 2nd seed and Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev of Russia. The other likely possibility is 7th seed Diego Schwartzman. And in the Final, Rafa will meet the top seed of the tournament, Novak Djokovic.

Projected draw for Rafael Nadal(By seeding)

  • First Round– Bye
  • Second Round– Rafael Nadal vs Adrian Mannarino
  • Third Round– Rafael Nadal vs Grigor Dimitrov
  • Quarter Final– Rafael Nadal vs Andrey Rublev
  • Semi Final– Rafael Nadal vs Daniil Medvedev
  • Final– Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic

Also read: Monte Carlo Masters 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction