ranked Rafael Nadal overpowered No. 5 seed Gael Monfils 6-1, 7-5 to win his first Japan Open title Sunday and regain some face after a surprise semifinal loss in Bangkok last week. Nadal roared out in the first set, breaking Monfils in the second and sixth games and keeping the Frenchman off the net with deep, well-placed returns that sealed it up in just 25 minutes at 6-1. Monfils took back some of the momentum early in the second set, delivering strong serves and crosscourt returns - and pleasing the crowd with acrobatic saves. But the left-handed Spaniard fought back in the 11th game, breaking Monfils' service with a long return shot just out of reach that put him ahead 6-5. He then held his service to take the next game and the match at 7-5. “I have to enjoy this moment,” the 24-year-old Nadal said, promising to return next year. “You never know when it will end.” Nadal, who has won nine Grand Slam titles and seven of eight finals this season, went into the match a heavy favorite, having beaten Monfils in six of their seven past meetings. His only loss to the Frenchman came on Doha's hard surface last year. Monfils has also struggled with left-handed opponents, marking a 0-3 record against them this season. “I wanted to win another big title after the US Open” last month, Nadal said. “Every tournament is very important.” But Nadal, fresh off a shock semifinal loss in Bangkok to compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, said going into the match that he was tired from a long season and was having trouble concentrating. Though he breezed through his early matches in Tokyo, winning in straight sets, that fatigue showed in his semifinal against unseeded Viktor Troicki, who was at match point twice and forced the top seed to into two tiebreakers before he finally capitalized on the Serb's sloppy play. Nadal had only one ace, to nine served up by Monfils, but was 90 percent for first serve points won. Still, he said he was able to shake off the previous day's doldrums and was satisfied with his performance Sunday. Rain postpones China finals The singles finals at the China Open will be completed Monday after heavy rain halted play with champion Novak Djokovic leading Spain's David Ferrer 3-1 in the men's showdown Sunday. New world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki did not even make it to court and will have to wait another 24 before she can face Vera Zvonareva in the women's showpiece match. Earlier Sunday, defending champions US twins Bob and Mike Bryan won the men's doubles title, beating Poland's Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5). In the women's doubles, Taiwan's Chuang Chia-Jung and Olga Govortsova of Belarus won their first title together, defeating top-seeded Gisela Dulko of Argentina and Italy's Flavia Pennetta, 7-6 (7-2), 1-6, 10-7 late Saturday.
