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Rafael Nadal competed in Monte Carlo for the second time in 2005, reaching the third round two years earlier and standing among the favorites. Rafa defeated three rivals to set the quarter-final duel against Gaston Gaudio, who beat him in Buenos Aires a couple of months earlier.
It was a strange match in Argentina, with Rafa taking the opener with a bagel, only to claim one game in the rest of the encounter! Nadal wished for a better result in Monte Carlo, saying he would give his best to score a win.
The Spaniard played well in the opening three rounds in the Principality. However, he still mentioned the necessary improvements with his initial shot to become more competitive. A few weeks before Monte Carlo, Nadal stood two points away from beating Roger Federer in straight sets in the Miami Masters final.
The young gun lost that one, and Monte Carlos was his next chance to claim his first notable trophy in a career.
Rafael Nadal set the quarter-final clash against Gaston Gaudio in Monte Carlo 2005.
Nadal lost to Igor Andreev in Valencia before taking a few days off and starting all over in Monte Carlo.
After a solid display, Rafa ousted his coeval Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-2 in the first round. He fought even better versus Xavier Malisse, losing only three games and sailing into the third round. Rafa faced another Belgian who could not follow his face, ousting Olivier Rochus 6-1, 6-2 in 64 minutes for a place in the last eight.
Rafa lost ten points in seven service games and kept the pressure on the other side. A teenager got broken once and turned 60% of the return points into six breaks that carried him home safely. Gaston Gaudio was the reigning Roland Garros champion, and Nadal had no fears ahead of that duel, already beating the Roland Garros champion in Monte Carlo two years earlier at 16!
"It was an excellent match; I started well and grabbed the victory. I bothered Olivier with a high bounce, hit well from both wings and made him run a lot. I lost to Gaudio in Buenos Aires after a strange match; I hope to play better this time and grab a win.
I want to beat him and reach the semi-final. Playing without an efficient serve is difficult; you must run a lot to win a point. I'm working hard on improving my initial shot," Rafael Nadal said.