World number one Rafael Nadal captured his seventh title of a stellar season Sunday, outclassing Gael Monfils in straight sets to win the Japan Open tennis tournament. The 24-year-old Spaniard, who saved two match points against Serbia's Viktor Troicki in the semi-finals, coasted to a straightforward 6-1, 7-5 victory over the French fifth seed.
"It's very important for me to win a title. I want to finish the season well, and it's a perfect way to finish the season. So I'm happy for that. I enjoy this moment, because winning a title is difficult," said Nadal.
"I won a lot this year, but I know it's difficult to keep winning. I'm going to try to play my best in Shanghai (next week) and the rest of the season and the Masters Cup in London, the most difficult tournament for me.
"But if I'm physically and mentally OK, I hope to keep having chances to have good matches," he added. Nadal, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the US Open, promised his fans at the stadium he would return next year.