William Shakespeare wrote in Henry IV, Part II “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” It’s a line that can be applied to many people of power. But, if you’re Rafael Nadal, your crown is powdered with red clay and it sits lightly with no challengers in sight.

Nadal’s Dominance on Display

Rafael Nadal needs to be perfect through the clay season to stave off Roger Federer and remain world number one at the end of it. And if Monte Carlo is any indication, he appears to be in good shape. In a draw that featured matches against the young Khachanov, Dominic Thiem and Grigor Dimitrov, Nadal managed to win the tournament with the following set scores:

6-1, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0, 6-2, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2

Yep, you read that right. Only one person (Dimitrov) was able to get four games in a set throughout the whole tournament. Not a single match was ever in doubt. There was almost zero moments of worry for Rafa. In the first set of the final against Nishikori, Rafa got broken in the 3rd game to fall behind 2-1. Were the nerves starting to creep in? Nope. Rafa went on to win the next four games and close the set 6-3. He then won the second 6-2 to add yet another clay court title to his hull.

Making Clay History

Nadal has won 76 career titles, placing him 5th all-time on that list, one behind John McEnroe. Of those 76, an incredible 54 have come on clay courts. He is 396-35 on clay during his career, which is a 91.9% winning percentage.

This was his 11th Monte Carlo title. Nadal is the only player in the Open Era to win 10 or more titles in a single event and he’s done it three times on clay. At both Barcelona this week and at Roland Garros at the end of May, he will also be looking to make it 11. He also broke the tie with Novak Djokovic for most ATP Masters 1000 titles by winning his 31st.

Rumors and conspiracy theories have been spreading that Rafa decided to skip Indian Wells and Miami to rest for the clay season. Some out there are claiming that his injury was just an excuse to skip the two events and he merely wanted some extra rest. I doubt, given the competitor Rafa is, that he would ever just skip an event if he was physically capable of playing. And if he did, who cares? The guy is a month and a half away from turning 32. He can do whatever he wants with his schedule.

What’s Next?

Now, Rafa turns his attention to Barcelona this week. Then to Madrid and Rome, both of which are Masters 1000 events. He will be defending champion points in all of them, except Rome where he lost to Thiem in the quarters last year. He will have to be almost perfect if he wants to be world number one when the clay court season comes to a close. If he does, he will put the pressure back on Roger, as Federer will attempt to defend titles at Halle and Wimbledon.

The only thing that could get in Rafa’s way is his own body. Back in 2016 he had destroyed his first two opponents at the French Open. A wrist injury would caused him to withdraw before his third round match. But, If Monte Carlo is any indication, I would say Roger better be ready when the game moves to the grass. The world number one crown won’t be easy to take.

Can Nadal go undefeated this clay season and maintain his top ranking? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.