1) The article discusses Rafael Nadal's recent victory at the Monte Carlo Masters, winning the title for an unprecedented 9th time. It analyzes his struggles with injuries in recent years that hampered his movement and success, as well as the rise of other top players like Djokovic, Murray, and Wawrinka. 2) In the final, Nadal defeated Monfils in 3 sets, with the first two sets featuring many breaks of serve. Nadal dominated the third set to win the match, displaying his powerful forehands, drop shots, and net play like in his prime. 3) Nadal's performance suggests he will be a strong challenger at the upcoming French Open