Rafael Nadal added a career-first hard-court title to his increasingly crowded trophy shelf, defeating three-time champion Andre Agassi 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 on Sunday to win the $2,2-million Montreal Masters.
The rain-interrupted victory — paused after the first set for 58 minutes due to drizzle — was the ninth of the season for the talented 19-year-old, who already owns the French Open and two other Masters Series titles this season.
Nadal secured victory in one hour and 58 minutes, and he weathered a storm in the second set as the 35-year-old Agassi fought back to level.
But the Spaniard took charge in the third, breaking Agassi twice to secure victory on his first match point from the American’s tired service return long.
Nadal (19) fulfilled a dream by finally facing the tennis icon.
”Agassi is a great player,” said Nadal, who won $400 000. ”He had a little bit of bad luck today.”
Agassi said: ”Congratulations to Rafael for a great tournament. It’s been great watching you and great competing against you.”
He joked: ”It was also great to play you before you retire.”
The trophy marked a third title in a row for Nadal after Bastad and Stuttgart. His effort put him level on a record nine titles won by a teenager with Swede Mats Wilander, who did it 22 years ago.
Nadal also holds spring 2005 Masters trophies from Monte Carlo and Rome.
He now has 65 match victories in 2005, having lost serve only twice this week. He’s riding a 16-match winning streak.
Agassi was playing in his second final in as many events after winning Los Angeles last month. The loss was Agassi’s first in a Canadian final after titles in 1992, 1994 and 1995.
In the opening set, Agassi fell victim to a break in the fourth game as Nadal stormed to a 3-1 lead from the American’s unforced error. Agassi closed out the sixth game 2-4 with his second ace and saved a Nadal set point with a service winner to hang in for 3-5.
But the young Spaniard secured the set 6-3 as Agassi stretched for a forehand return, sending it long after 36 minutes.
During the changeover, the light mist that had begun earlier in the day returned, with the players sitting under umbrellas at their chairs before being sent off court after a five-minute wait.
After 58 minutes, they returned to a dry court, with Agassi looking more determined than ever.
The American announced his intentions as he aced to take a 1-0 lead and squared the match after setting up two set points with a sizzling down-the-line winner while leading 5-4.
Nadal produced an ace to save the first of two set points, but couldn’t handle an Agassi return on the second after 45 minutes as he lost serve for only the second time this week.
In the third, his reserves ran dry, with Nadal breaking twice to finally earning victory in front of a sell-out crowd. — Sapa-DPA