name='verify_a78772d791e94fc7f9666f0dd14249cc'/> From Clay to Hard: Rafael Nadal's Journey to the 2005 Montreal Final

From Clay to Hard: Rafael Nadal's Journey to the 2005 Montreal Final

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Rafael Nadal reached his second notable final on hard court in Montreal 2005, beating Paul-Henri Mathieu in the semi-final. Rafa played his first tournament as world no. 2 following a stellar season, passing everyone but Roger Federer on the ATP ranking list and already chasing his ninth title of the season! Rafa claimed his first Major crown at Roland Garros two months earlier and gained a boost after lifting two trophies on clay in Bastad and Stuttgart after Wimbledon. Roger Federer skipped Montreal, leaving the young gun as the top seed. Rafa made a winning start following a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 victory over a compatriot and friend Carlos Moya. The youngster worked hard in that one before experiencing a more relaxed day at the office against Ricardo Mello, whom he beat 6-1, 6-2 in 66 minutes.

Rafael Nadal reached his fourth Masters 1000 final in Montreal 2005.

In a battle for the quarter-final, Rafa defeated Sebastien Grosjean 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 40 minutes. The Spaniard repelled all five break opportunities and stole the opponent's serve once in each set to advance into the last four and remain on the title course. His next rival was another Frenchman, Paul-Henri Mathieu. Paul-Henri played well that week and gave his best against Rafa while chasing a place in the final. A teenager prevailed 6-4, 7-5 in an hour and 50 minutes, getting broken at 5-4 in the second set while serving for the victory and recovering quickly to advance into the title match. They had few winners. Nadal earned the triumph in the unforced errors department after taming his strokes more efficiently than his opponent. The Frenchman had a slight edge in the shortest range up to four strokes. Rafa erased that deficit with a better performance in the most extended exchanges that sent him over the top.

The Spaniard broke at love at 1-1 in the opener and held at love to race into a 3-1 lead. The youngster saved two break chances in the sixth game and wasted a set point on the return at 5-3. Mathieu survived that game before Nadal held at love to wrap up the set in style. A teenager earned a break at 2-2 in the second set and served for the win in game ten. Instead of sealing the deal, Nadal experienced a break at love, keeping the rival in contention. Paul-Henri could not build on that, hitting two double faults in the 11th game and suffering another break that would cost him dearly. Rafa emerged at the top in the next one after repelling a break chance, reaching his second notable ATP hard-court final and setting the title clash against Andre Agassi.



from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/LH8R9NI
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