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    Nadal retains first title outside of clay

    Top seed Rafael Nadal overwhelmed Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-0 to win his fifth Rogers Cup here — the first time he has retained a title outside of clay.

    Nadal retains first title outside of clay
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    Rafael Nadal

    The 33-year-old World No. 2 dominated the eighth-seeded Medvedev in their first-ever meeting. The Russian had not dropped a set in the tournament but was no match for Spaniard Nadal, who saved a break point in his first game and confidently put away Medvedev who is 10 years his junior.


    “He was playing very well during the whole week, so for me it was important to not allow him to take advantage in the beginning,” Nadal said in a courtside interview. “I played a very solid game, it was my best match of the week without a doubt.” Nadal broke the Russian in the fourth game to go 3-1 up and dominated the remainder of the 70-minute clash.


    Winning 82% of his first serve points and delivering high and heavy forehands on the windy afternoon, the Spaniard broke Medvedev three times in the second set before wrapping up the victory, a record 35th at the Masters 1000 level. Victor Nadal shrugged aside the importance of the stat that he had successfully defended a title outside clay for the first time. “It is so important to be back on a hard court and winning another big title,” he said.


    The Spaniard’s previous two victories this season, in the Italian and French Opens, both came on clay. Medvedev had reached the final by defeating compatriot Karen Khachanov 6-1, 7-6(6) to become the top-ranked Russian. But he made 22 errors in the championship match. Nadal advanced to the showpiece contest on a walkover when his semi-final opponent, Frenchman Gael Monfils, withdrew with an ankle injury before their meeting.


    Nadal on Monday revealed he won’t be taking part in the Cincinnati Masters, where he was supposed to be the second seed. “I am very sorry to announce that I won’t be playing in the event this year,” he wrote on Facebook. “No other reason than personally taking care of my body and trying to keep as healthy as I feel now,” he added. 

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