Rafael Nadal’s priority after reaching his 12th Monte Carlo Masters final was to whip out his phone and frantically text coach Carlos Moya.
Despite a comfortable 6-4, 6-1 win against No. 5-ranked Grigor Dimitrov, he had a pressing concern given how quickly he was texting.
What frantic emergency could command such attention?
“I was texting Carlos to tell him that we need to book a court quick,” Nadal said. “I wanted to hit some forehands winners that I think I need for tomorrow.”
So the top-ranked Nadal, a 10-time French Open champion with 75 career titles, hurried to another clay court just for forehand practice ahead of Sunday’s final against Kei Nishikori, an opponent he has beaten nine times out of 11.
While it may seem absurd, it is a reminder of the relentless perfectionist Nadal is even on his best surface.
No matter that he has not dropped a set in six matches since coming back from a recurrence of a right hip injury; he is more focused on ironing out even the smallest of flaws.
Even though he crushed Dimitrov, as he had Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nadal was not satisfied.
“I really had a lot of chances in the first set to have (a) little bit better score. I didn’t convert (them),” he said. “The only way to hold the level, and to hold the chances to keep winning after 10, 12 years, is to improve things.”
He remains on course for a record-extending 11th Monte Carlo title and record 31st Masters. He shares the Masters record with Novak Djokovic, whose 30 wins include two here.
Nishikori, who is making an encouraging return from a serious right-wrist injury, beat No. 4 Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
“It’s getting there,” said Nishikori, who has missed the past two majors because of a torn tendon. “Little bit sore still.”
Nishikori won on his first match point when Zverev scooped a backhand wide. The German player looked jaded, having finished a long and grueling quarterfinal at 9 p.m. on Friday.
Nishikori has never won a Masters and last reached a final two years ago in Montreal. He beat Nadal in their last encounter two years ago to take the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
He knows it will be a different challenge toppling him in Monte Carlo.
“He’s been dominating crazy this week,” Nishikori said. “On clay he’s the king.”
Nadal never looked imperious as he beat Dimitrov for the 11th time in 12 career meetings.
“In the second set, he started to miss more,” Nadal said modestly. “I was there solid. That’s all.
“Being in 12 finals already here is something difficult to imagine,” added Nadal, who has lost only one, to Djokovic in 2013.
Dimitrov came out firing, but he was mostly more miss than hit.
The Bulgarian cracked trying to serve for 5-5. He made consecutive double faults and hit a wild forehand long to trail 15-40. He saved one set point but Nadal was in ruthless mode and took the next chance.
Two consecutive love breaks and three easy holds made it 5-0 to Nadal in the second set.
Nadal’s victory at Monte Carlo last year made him the first men’s tennis player in the Open era to win the same title 10 times. He then won a 10th title at Barcelona and at Roland Garros.
Rafael Nadal not satisfied after reaching 12th Monte Carlo final
Rafael Nadal not satisfied after reaching 12th Monte Carlo final
- Super Spaniard looking for a record-breaking 11th Monte Carlo Masters title.
- Nadal faces Japan's Kei Nishikori in Sunday's final.
Expressions of disquiet concerning cricket’s power base
- Increasing number of players, coaches may be prepared to oppose overconcentration of power in game
Last week’s crisis over Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup ended with the International Cricket Council’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland. In a show of support for Bangladesh, the Pakistan Cricket Board indulged in saber rattling by suggesting that it may boycott the tournament.
This is unlikely and would invite severe repercussions, effectively creating a schism in cricket. The stance may be interpreted as a continuation of Pakistan’s ongoing challenge to India’s hegemony of the game.
In a sign of the way in which views have polarized, Jason Gillespie, a former Australian cricketer and international coach, posted the following on X: “Has there been an explanation from the ICC why Bangladesh could not play their matches outside of India? From memory, India refused to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan and were allowed to play those matches outside of Pakistan. Can someone make this make sense?”
Among the plentiful responses were many from Indian sources, who were not kindly disposed towards Gillespie’s question. He took the post down, saying: “I got abused for asking a simple question.”
On the surface it may appear to be a simple question, but it hits at the heart of a complex issue. Gillespie’s critics have been quick to seize on the fact that he was, for six months in 2024, coach of the Pakistan national men’s Test team and that he will be the coach of the new Kingsman Hyderabad franchise in the Pakistan Super League in April. This involvement has been interpreted as evidence of bias against India.
Another respected player, Jason Holder, former captain of the West Indies, expressed some forthright thoughts in a podcast earlier this month. One of these related to the selection of Pakistani players in franchise leagues. He commented that it was sad that “certain Pakistanis can’t be involved in certain teams because they are owned by Indian owners.” Holder also expressed his sadness at the impact on cricket of relations between India and Pakistan.
Separately, Moeen Ali, of England, went further in an interview given while playing in the Bangladesh Premier League in January. His view is that the ICC does not act like a neutral guardian of the game, effectively serving the interests of “one cricket nation.” Ali added that everyone inside the game knows “who actually runs things,” but few are willing to say so publicly.
Neither did he directly, but we are safe to assume the glaringly obvious — that he was referring to India. It is understandable that many within the game are reluctant to rock the boat, partly out of fear about the opprobrium which follows, and to which Azeem Rafiq can testify.
Gillespie has been the source of social media abuse and Holder has also been subject to negative comment. He has played for franchises owned by Indians in India, South Africa, the UAE and the Caribbean. Ali has done likewise and it is noticeable that in December 2025 he announced that will play in the Pakistan Super League in April 2026, rather than the Indian Premier League, where he has represented three franchises since 2018. The league is now adopting an Indian, youth-driven strategy, which is reducing opportunities for experienced overseas players. In a surprise announcement this week, Ali announced that he will play for Yorkshire in the T20 Blast in 2026. This reverses his decision during 2025 to retire from English domestic cricket.
Opportunities for cricketers to play in franchise leagues are still on the increase. Almost 11 months ago I was fortunate to interview Abhishek Bachchan, who had been revealed as a co-owner of the European T20 Premier League. The league, which is approved by the ICC, consists of a partnership between the national cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. At the time of the interview the intention of the owners was to hold the first edition of the event between July 15 and Aug. 3, 2025.
In my column, following the interview, I suggested that the ETPL’s promoters had their work cut out, given that there were only five months to go until mid-July. It was clear that discussions with players and their agents were underway, as were those with potential franchisees and investors. At the time that space was crowded because the focus of these stakeholders was on the sale of equity in The Hundred. Postponement of the ETPL was announced in early June 2025. In the intervening months, time has been well spent leading to last week’s announcement that the ETPL will launch in August 2026.
Exact dates and format have not been revealed, but it is understood that late August to mid-September is the preferred option. The original idea was to hold the league prior to The Hundred, which occupies most of August. Instead, it is now planned to open after the 2026 Hundred concludes on Aug. 16. Originally a six-franchise league was proposed, based on teams in Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. This remains the case and, to date, three teams have been confirmed for Amsterdam, Belfast and Edinburgh.
It was a surprise to learn the identities of the owners. The rights to own the Amsterdam Flames have been acquired by a trio consisting of Steve Waugh, the former Australian captain; Jamie Dwyer, one of Australia’s greatest-ever male hockey players; and Tim Thomas, former CEO of the Centre for Australia-India Relations.
Another Australian cricketer, a current one, Glenn Maxwell, will own the Belfast-based Irish Wolves franchise, along with Rohan Lund, formerly CEO of the NRMA Group in Australia. In Edinburgh, the rights for the Castle Rockers lie with two former New Zealand cricketers, Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum, older brother of Brendon McCullum, the current coach of the England men’s cricket team.
None of these individuals appear to have had any previous involvement in the ownership of franchise teams. Indeed, Waugh said that he has “always been selective about where I invest my time and energy in cricket. In many ways it marks a return to the game for me — but in a very different role. This is about helping uphold the standards and spirit of cricket while supporting its growth into Europe, which remains the game’s last great frontier.”
A stated aim of the ETPL promoters is to develop local talent. This was echoed by Kyle Mills, who referred to a partnership with Otago Cricket Board in New Zealand. This is intended to bring a pipeline of young talent through to the Rockers, along with the potential to develop local players and inspire the next generation to take up cricket. Each of the three franchises has secured big-name Australian and New Zealand cricketers for the inaugural competition.
So far, there is a different feel to the ETPL. As yet, the franchises are not funded by existing franchise owners in other leagues, some of which are dependent on Indian money. The Big Bash League is heading for privatization in Australia and there is little doubt that there will be strong interest from Indian investors. However, if an increasing number of players and coaches are prepared to express their disquiet about the overconcentration of power in the game, and alternative investors emerge, then the engulfing of cricket by one nation may be challenged.
