So…this make it FIVE years in a row that Nadal has won on this clay court championship that is held in Monte Carlo each year and is one of the premier non-grandslam championship in the ATP Masters series.  It hasn’t come against easily opposition, Nadal beat Federer in each of the past three years in the Finals to win this title and just beat Novak Djokovic to win the 2009 title as well.

Most people that follow tennis understand that this is one of many ”lets get ready for the French Open” tournament that will be held in Paris from May 25-June 7.  Nonetheless this marks Nadal’s third win this calendar year on the ATP circuit while Federer has lost in every tournament that he has played in…a Federer fan would have to worry whether this will be another down year (by his standards) for him.