DOHA, Qatar -- Rafael Nadal opened his 2014 campaign by winning his first title of the year in defeating Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2 at the Qatar Open on Saturday. Archie Bradley Diamondbacks Jersey . Nadal showed why hes the top player in the world all week long. Although he wasnt in top form in this first event of the season, he battled to win his 61st career title, one shy of Guillermo Vilas total, seventh on the all-time Open era list. "I think I played my best match of the season -- of the tournament -- today," Nadal said after the exciting, two-hour final. "I was happy with how I played." Of the five matches Nadal played this week he was taken the three-set distance three times: By Tobias Kamke in the second round, Peter Gojowczyk in the quarterfinals, and then by Monfils. "The important thing is that I had a chance to survive after very tough matches this week," he said. "And it was a tougher match against a tougher opponent in the final. "Its very exciting to start the year with a title." Nadal, who reached the championship match in Doha in 2010, has been in the final of 15 of his last 18 tournaments. Last year he won a career-high 10 titles. Nadal holds a 9-2 record against Monfils. The Frenchman previously won both of their meetings in Doha, in the 2009 quarterfinals and 2012 semifinals. The 31st-ranked Monfils has been in three Doha finals, but will again go home without the trophy. Hes appeared in 20 career finals, but won only four. "Rafa is strong, hitting hard the ball," Monfils said. "Its always tough to play against him, and at the end he was a bit better than me today." Nadal dominated the first set, taking it in just 23 minutes. Monfils managed to hold serve only in the sixth game. "If I play like I did in the first set Ill be very competitive in Melbourne," Nadal said of the upcoming Australian Open. In the second set it was all about Monfils to start, as the Frenchman could do no wrong en route to a 3-0 lead. Although Nadal recouped the service break in the seventh game when Monfils netted a backhand, he couldnt bypass the Frenchman in the tiebreaker. Nadal saved thee Monfils set points at 6-3 in the tiebreaker, but on the fourth Monfils nailed the set with an ace. In the third set, Nadal broke Monfils in the fourth game when the Frenchman shipped two forehands long from 30-30. Leading 3-1, Nadal saved four break points on his serve in the fifth game to take a 4-1 lead. Nadal broke serve again on a second match point in the final game when Monfils sailed a forehand long. Diamondbacks Gear . Noah finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in 34 minutes. He was headed for his fourth triple-double of the season, but sat down with about three minutes left because of the lopsided score. Kirk Hinrich scored 19 points for Chicago, going 5 for 6 on 3-pointers, Carlos Boozer added 18 points, D. Robbie Ray Diamondbacks Jersey . - Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II says the NFL has told the team it will not be docked a pick in this years draft for coach Mike Tomlins foray onto the field against Baltimore last November. http://www.diamondbacksapparelsshop.com/paul-goldschmidt-jersey-c-6/ . The (35-35-10) Jets have 80 points and are also playing .500 hockey on home ice this season with a 17-17-6 record. Michael Hutchinson will start his second straight game in goal.Rostislav Klesla will not be joining the Buffalo Sabres. The 31-year-old defencemen was traded from the Washington Capitals alongside goalie Michal Neuvirth to the Sabres for goalie Jaroslav Halak and a third-round selection on Trade Deadline day. Klesla was traded the day before from Phoenix to Washington. "With all due respect to the Sabres organization, I decided this week not to continue playing hockey this season. It has been a tough year for injury and moving several times to new teams,” Klesla said in a statement. &lddquo;I will now take some time off and get ready to continue my career in Europe. Yasmany Tomas Jersey. I would like to thank my fans and all the people that have helped me. I am grateful for the career I have had in the NHL and all the people that I have met along the way who have supported me and my family." In 25 games with the Coyotes this season, Klesla had one goal and three assists with a minus-3 rating. If this is the end of Kleslas time in the NHL, hell have finished with 48 goals and 111 assists in 659 career games. Wholesale NFL T-shirts Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping NFL Jerseys Wholesale China NFL Gear Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Cheap NFL Hoodies Camo China NFL Jerseys ' ' '
