On at the present time, ten years in the past, Rafael Nadal claimed his solely Buenos Aires crown. The king of clay lifted his first ATP trophy in 9 months following wrist points. He celebrated his sixty fifth ATP title, leaving the legendary Pete Sampras on 64.
Rafa defeated 4 Argentines en path to the title, together with a win over his nice pal Juan Monaco within the remaining. Nadal kicked off the season with out his normal confidence. He scored seven wins in Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro earlier than heading to Buenos Aires.
The king of clay embraced his first Buenos Aires look in ten years, looking for victories and confidence.
¡Cómo pasa el tiempo! 🥲
El 1° de marzo de 2015, 🇪🇸 Rafa Nadal levantaba por primera y única vez el trofeo del ATP de Buenos Aires tras derrotar 6-4 y 6-1 a 🇦🇷 Pico Mónaco. 🏆
¿Qué recordás de aquel torneo? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Um2yBOVytY
— ESPN Tenis (@ESPNtenis) March 1, 2025
The Spaniard confronted world no. 146 Facundo Arguello within the second spherical and earned a snug 6-4, 6-0 win in 65 minutes. Rafa dominated the second set and sealed the deal very quickly. He performed in opposition to Facundo Bagnis within the quarter-final.
The favourite performed one other flawless match and offered a 6-1, 6-1 win in simply over an hour for a spot within the final 4. Nadal misplaced 9 factors on serve and offered 5 breaks to manage the scoreboard and stay on the title course.
Rafael Nadal, Buenos Aires 2015© Stream screenshot
Carlos Berlocq pushed Rafa to the bounds within the opening set. World no. 4 prevailed and scored a 7-6, 6-2 win in an hour and 53 minutes. The house participant had an enormous alternative to greatest the legend within the opener and make the scoreboard extra attention-grabbing.
Berlocq led 6-1 within the tie break earlier than squandering set factors and dropping it. Nadal gained an enormous enhance and dominated set quantity two to enter the title conflict in opposition to Juan Monaco. Rafa had the higher hand and bested the house favourite 6-4, 6-1 in an hour and 27 minutes.
Rafael Nadal, Buenos Aires 2015© Stream screenshot
Thus, he celebrated his forty sixth ATP title on clay and the primary since final 12 months’s Roland Garros. Monaco stayed in contact within the opening 9 video games. He misplaced the bottom and sprayed nearly 30 unforced errors to accept the runner-up spot.
Nadal managed the tempo in his video games and provided his good pal no break factors. Juan served at 75% however nonetheless dropped nearly half of the factors in his video games. The Spaniard collected 9 break factors and seized 4 to sail excessive.
Rain made the situations difficult, however that didn’t have an effect on Rafa’s sport. The king of clay landed 18 winners and 15 unforced errors and diminished his opponent to 9 direct factors. Rafa took cost within the shortest and most superior rallies and introduced the win dwelling in fashion.
Rafael Nadal & Juan Monaco, Buenos Aires 2015© Stream screenshot
The Argentine saved a break level within the first sport of the encounter and raised his degree. He served nicely within the subsequent two video games and moved 3-2 in entrance. Nadal made a push on the return at 3-3 and welcomed the rival’s backhand error for a break and the benefit.
Rafa held for 5-3 and served for the opener in sport ten. He held at 15 after Monaco’s backhand error, clinching the set and gaining a lift. Juan misplaced serve in the beginning of the second set after a drop shot mistake, the shot that marked the start of his finish.
Rafael Nadal, Buenos Aires 2015© Stream screenshot
Nadal held for 2-0 and made one other push on the return within the subsequent one. The Argentine skilled one other break following a backhand error, propelling the Spaniard 3-0 in entrance. Rafa closed the fourth sport for 4-0 and held at 15 two video games later for a 5-1 lead.
The Spaniard offered one other break in sport seven, sealing the deal and incomes his sixty fifth ATP title.
