Nadal On Collision Course With Monaco

In the final of the 2015 Argentina Open, Rafael Nadal topped good friend Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-1 for his 46^th career clay-court title and improved his tour-level record against the Argentine to 6-1. Next week, both player could meet again in Buenos Aires, this time in the second round.

Top seed Nadal will have a first-round bye, while Monaco can set up an eighth FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting with his occasional doubles partner by winning his first-round match against a qualifier. The pair won the 2015 Doha doubles title together, and finished runners-up at Vina Del Mar in 2013.

The 31 year-old Tandil native will hope that local support and some home cooking will help him overcome a one-sided rivalry against the Spaniard. Monaco’s only win against Nadal came when the latter retired from their second-round match in Cincinnati in 2007. Monaco has yet to win a set against Nadal on clay, and has been on the losing end of three 6-0 sets in their past three meetings.

On Saturday, Monaco and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga visited Buenos Aires Playa, situated alongside the Rio Plata, to play mini tennis and interact with fans.  Tsonga is seeded third this year in Buenos Aires and Monaco, the 2007 champion, is playing in his first tournament since he sustained a season-ending wrist injury in Kitzbuhel 2015.  Monaco is very happy about the way his wrist feels and has been training hard in advance of his home event.

“These are new feelings after seven months away from the circuit, but I feel good after having a long time to recover,” Monaco said. “I’m thankful I can return here in Buenos Aires because it’s one of the tournaments I like the most.

“It’s a nice way to pass the time. It was very enjoyable to play with the kids. They are fans of tennis and it’s always fun to meet them and visit these beautiful spots around Buenos Aires.”