The Baseline Player of the Week: Rafael Nadal

Every week Baseline will select a “Player of the Week.” That athlete may not always win the highest category tournament that week, but perform the best compared to their recent playing history.

Twelve years ago, an 18-year-old Rafael Nadal was bageled in the third set of his first Monte Carlo final against Guillermo Coria. Then the Spaniard bounced back to win the fourth set and with it, the tournament, ahead of his Roland Garros debut.

“No, no, no. I am not favorite, no,” Nadal said after winning what was his biggest title at the time. “[It’s] my first Roland Garros.”

Nadal would go on to capture his first of nine French Open titles weeks later. Little did he know that 12 years later he would be winning his 10th title in Monte Carlo—marking the first time an ATP player has won a singles title that many times in the Open Era.

But that isn’t all that was impressive about Nadal’s mostly straightforward 6-1, 6-3 victory against compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas on Sunday. The victory also earned Nadal his 50th clay court title, pushing past Hall of Famer Guillermo Vilas.

“I feel lucky to keep playing tennis [and] being healthy all those years, in order to compete in one of the most beautiful events of the year,” Nadal, who won his first title since last April, said. “I am very happy to win another one. For me, it is a very important day in my career.”

After battling through a three-setter in his opener against Kyle Edmund, the Mallorcan turned ruthless, beating beat three Top 25 opponents without a set getting closer than 6-3 in his favor.

But that shouldn’t be a shock.

Nadal was so close to winning a 15th Grand Slam title in Australia earlier this year, after eight major appearances without advancing past the quarterfinals. The Spaniard was up 3-1 in the fifth set against rival Roger Federer, who would rattle off five games to close the match and capture major No. 18.

“I cannot predict what's going on in the future,” Nadal told reporters after the loss in Melbourne. “I just think that I am playing well. I just think that I worked hard to be where I am. I believe that playing like this, good things can happen. Can happen here in this surface, but especially can happen on clay.”

The key word is "clay." Nadal threatened to win a Grand Slam on his least favorite surface. Now, he is back on dirt, where he has molded his legendary status.

Based off of Nadal’s performance in Monte Carlo—despite not facing any of his chief rivals — it's hard not to call him an early favorite in Paris once more.