Rafael Nadal won his first tennis title in 11 months when he pummelled fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-0 6-1 to win the Monte Carlo Masters and send an intimidating message of intent before May's French Open.
The four-times French Open champion's shock fourth-round defeat at Roland Garros last year was a distant memory as Nadal became the first player to win the same event six years in a row since tennis turned professional in 1968.
Nadal has suffered from a recurring knee injury, won his last title at the Rome Masters last May and his return to form comes just over a month before the grand slam tournament on his favourite surface in Paris.
