Rafael Nadal won a record 11th title at the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday as he defeated Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-3, 6-2 to underscore his resurgence and dominance on clay.

For defending champion Nadal, his latest win on the Cote D'Azur seemed to be as sweet as the first crown he claimed in 2005. For the climax, he fired a massive backhand winner before raising his arms above his head in triumph.

The title was his 31st at Masters level, and he managed it without dropping a single set for the entire week as he began his clay-court season in style.

It also ensured he will stay atop the world rankings going into May and June's French Open, at which he could also win an 11th title.

Nadal proved the stronger player throughout, although he did suffer a scare in the opening set when in a surprise to the crowd there to witness a coronation, Nishikori broke him in the third game - the first man to do so all tournament.

But the 28-year-old struggled to keep up with Nadal, 31. He needed 11 minutes to win his first service game, and he survived by the narrowest of margins after being taken to five deuces, before Nadal twice broke him back later in the set.

In similar fashion to all Nadal's opponents in Monaco, Nishikori visibly wilted in the second set. He bravely held on his first service game, but was broken 40-15 down in the third game, and again with the same scoreline in the fifth.

The Spaniard's serves, in particular, were better in the second half. He racked up no double faults, whereas he had endured three in the first, and was also able to find enough nous to send over an ace among his two service winners.

Nishikori is still working his way back to full strength after an issue with his right elbow that forced him to retire from the Australian Open this year.

‘It was a great week, I had an injury and couldn't play for a long time,’ he said.

The 93-minute victory on Court Rainier III makes Nadal the firm favourite to claim further glory on the clay at Barcelona next week.

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