World number one Rafael Nadal won the Madrid Masters 2014 on Sunday after opponent Kei Nishikori of Japan was forced to retire from the match with a back injury. Nadal was leading 2-6, 6-4, 3-0.
Nadal became the first player to win four Madrid Masters titles. He also extended the Masters title haul to 27 and this is his 63rd tour-level title which places him in standalone sixth in the Open Era list. This is his 44th claycourt title which just makes him just within two trophies to tie all-time leader Guillermo Vilas’ with 46.
The victory was also significant for Nadal since he will remain number one regardless on how he will perform in this week’s Rome Masters.
“I’m very sorry for Nishikori,” Nadal said. “He’s an unbelievable player that will fight to be in London [at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals]. I am sure of that. I really hope that the injury is not too bad and he will be able to compete in Roland Garros.”
This is Nishikori’s first ATP Masters 1000 final. He came to the final on a 13 match win streak which saw him win the Barcelona Open title a week ago. His efforts saw him enter the world’s top ten for the first time. He’s the first Japanese male player to achieve this feat.
“There is a lot of confidence I get from this tournament by beating [Ferrer] in three sets and playing well in the final today,” said Nishikori.
“It’s going to be very exciting at [Roland Garros] because I’ve never feel like this on clay. I’m very confident of whatever I hit going for winners. I can hit from either side – forehand or backhand – so it’s a very good feeling that I have on clay right now.
Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic won their 26th ATP World Tour team title Sunday after defeating World No. 1 Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan 6-4, 6-2 in the final.
