Montreal (AFP)

Spaniard Rafael Nadal, crowned for the 5th time in Canada on Sunday, has become the undisputed "king" of the Masters 1000, the most important tournaments of the ATP circuit after the four Grand Slams, with the 35th trophy of his career won in Montreal against the Russian Daniil Medvedev.

In the title, the N.2 World defeated his opponent 6-3, 6-0 in both sets to hold his fifth trophy in Canada, in Montreal or Toronto, the two cities taking turns in the men's event. then feminine.

With 35 Masters 1000 to his track record, Nadal relegated his immediate pursuer, Navak Djokovic of Serbia, N.1 World, to two units, which he will be returning to Cincinnati from Monday.

"My opponent has played very well throughout the week," said the Spaniard after the match. "So it was important for me to start the final so that he did not take the lead, because the finals are always a bit more difficult for everyone."

"I have played a lot (Masters finals 1000, 51 exactly) and I know that the beginning of the match can be capricious, especially against a big player like him who evolves with a lot of confidence as he did throughout the week, "said Nadal again about Medvedev, the 9th world player and finalist in Washington a week ago.

- "My best match" -

Indeed, the start of the final was laborious with very long exchanges in the first game. But then, Nadal, aged 33, began to pound powerful and heavy forehands from the bottom of the court to push his fault opponent.

And Medvedev, 23, who is playing his first Masters 1000 final, cracked the first time in the fourth game by committing a double fault. Nadal then raced in the lead and was never worried again. Especially since the second set was one-sided, Medvedev rarely reaching to score points.

The Spaniard also took advantage of the rest imposed Saturday following the withdrawal of his opponent in the semifinal, the French Gael Monfils, unlike the Russian who had to fight to eliminate his compatriot Karen Khachanov 6-1, 7-6 (8 / 6).

Two weeks before the US Open, the Majorcan has shown that it will be necessary to count with him for the final victory in the last lift of the Grand Slam of the year.

Rafael Nadal, who believes he "played his best game of the week", also won his third tournament of the year after the Masters 1000 Rome and Roland Garros, bringing his career total to 83, including 18 in Grand Slam.

© 2019 AFP