Rafael Nadal vs Gael Monfils in Qatar Open final
TENNIS, DOHA, Jan 04 (AFP): World number one Rafael Nadal will play
Frenchman Gael Monfils in the Qatar Open final after beating surprise
package Peter Gojowczyk in the semi-final on Friday.
Nadal's 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory confirmed him as the overwhelming
favourite to take the title and do something he has never done before,
win a tournament in the opening week of the year.
But Nadal may need to be specially wary of Monfils, whose two wins
against the legendary Spaniard have both come here in Doha and who has
arrived in the final with the mixed blessing of having dropped only 23
games in eight sets -- but with correspondingly far less match practice.
"I never win a title in the first week of the season, and tomorrow I
have another opportunity," Nadal said.
"A lot of times I have tried here so it will mean a lot to me to
succeed finally. Hopefully tomorrow (Saturday) I will play good and will
play my best match here. I know I will try." Nadal was rarely near his
peak and started poorly, losing the first nine points of the match to
the German qualifier.
Nadal made many errors
He moved sluggishly and made 17 unforced errors with his famous
forehand drive in the first set alone. Gojowczyk, who had only
previously played four matches on the ATP World Tour and admits to
having sought Nadal's autograph at last year's US Open, was patient,
methodical, and careful.
He was also capable of sudden dramatic changes of pace with which he
could hit strident ground stoke winners.
"At the beginning my opponent was comfortable with every shot - even
if he did play great," said Nadal.
"If my opponent is playing too comfortable it is because I am doing
something bad. And then I have to analyse myself.
"The positive thing is I am arriving in the final without big
preparation," he added, referring to the fact that new treatment on his
troublesome knees has apparently restricted his off-season training to
little more than a week.
Nadal hit back to win 13 points out of 17 and take a 4-0 second-set
lead.
Determined to do better
He always seemed the likely winner thereafter but knows he needs to
do better to stand a chance of winning the final.
"I need to play much better to have a chance tomorrow," he said. "If
I don't improve my level of tennis, my level of rhythm, and play more
inside (the baseline) my chances of winning will not be big." Monfils
hopes to prove that opinion correct. The Guadeloupe-born former world
number seven appears more focussed and motivated than for a long time,
and has apparently recovered from a wrist problem, the last in a long
line of depressing injuries.
His 6-3, 6-2 win over Florian Mayer, the conqueror of Wimbledon
champion Andy Murray, was however assisted by the German's very evident
tiredness after three hard three-set matches in three days.
By contrast Monfils was lightning fast and rapier sharp, striking 30
winners and nine aces in a one-sided semi-final lasting less than an
hour.
Monfils - lightning fast
He also sounded more buoyant than for some time. Playing against
Nadal though will be a different proposition.
"But I like it here," Monfils said optimistically. "I like the
conditions, I like the balls and the court. The court is fast but I am
still able to run and cover it, and I like playing at night time.
"There are a lot of French people here and it is a little bit like
playing in France. I hope to do well."
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