Nadal starts 2015 with Mubadala title

AGENCIES, ABU DHABI (UAE): Rafael Nadal started the year in winning fashion by beating Milos Raonic to lift the Mubadala World Tennis Championship for the third time.
Fourteen-time Grand Slam winner Nadal showed encouraging signs that he could get back to something like his best towards the end of what was a frustrating 2015 and he claimed a morale-boosting victory in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
The Spaniard saw off big-serving Canadian Raonic 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 at Sheikh Zayed Sports City’s International Tennis Stadium to win the hard-court exhibition tournament for the first time in five years.
Nadal said this week that he believes he can be “very competitive” this year and tournament debutant Raonic was unable to deny the world number five, who wrapped up the first set in 54 minutes after dominating a tie-break.
Raonic was then broken in the fourth game of the second set and Nadal consigned him to defeat in a showdown that lasted an hour and a half.
David Ferrer had earlier beaten Stan Wawrinka 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 10-8 in a third-place play-off that was decided by a super tie-break.
Meanwhile, Nadal is refusing to dwell on last year’s struggles after taking out the exhibition Mubadala World Tennis Championship.
The 29-year-old Spaniard’s success came after an inconsistent season in 2015, which saw him win three titles in Buenos Aires, Stuttgart and Hamburg.
But Nadal, who made quarter-final appearances at the Australian and French Opens, is just focused on the year ahead with a trip to Melbourne Park looming.
“It is a great way to start the new season, winning against two of the best players in the world, without a doubt,” Nadal told reporters as he turns his attention to the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, where he will officially open his ATP Tour season.
“Playing at the right level, a very good level of tennis, so happy for that and happy to win the title here in Abu Dhabi again. I tried hard every year but I felt that this year I arrived in very good shape so it is good to start like this.

 

Nadal starts 2015 with Mubadala title

AGENCIES, ABU DHABI (UAE): Rafael Nadal started the year in winning fashion by beating Milos Raonic to lift the Mubadala World Tennis Championship for the third time. Fourteen-time Grand Slam winner Nadal showed encouraging signs that he could get back to something like his best towards the end of what was a frustrating 2015 and he claimed a morale-boosting victory in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The Spaniard saw off big-serving Canadian Raonic 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 at Sheikh Zayed Sports Citys International Tennis Stadium to win the hard-court exhibition tournament for the first time in five years. Nadal said this week that he believes he can be very competitive this year and tournament debutant Raonic was unable to deny the world number five, who wrapped up the first set in 54 minutes after dominating a tie-break. Raonic was then broken in the fourth game of the second set and Nadal consigned him to defeat in a showdown that lasted an hour and a half. David Ferrer had earlier beaten Stan Wawrinka 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 10-8 in a third-place play-off that was decided by a super tie-break. Meanwhile, Nadal is refusing to dwell on last years struggles after taking out the exhibition Mubadala World Tennis Championship. The 29-year-old Spaniards success came after an inconsistent season in 2015, which saw him win three titles in Buenos Aires, Stuttgart and Hamburg. But Nadal, who made quarter-final appearances at the Australian and French Opens, is just focused on the year ahead with a trip to Melbourne Park looming. It is a great way to start the new season, winning against two of the best players in the world, without a doubt, Nadal told reporters as he turns his attention to the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, where he will officially open his ATP Tour season. Playing at the right level, a very good level of tennis, so happy for that and happy to win the title here in Abu Dhabi again. I tried hard every year but I felt that this year I arrived in very good shape so it is good to start like this.