DOHA, Qatar -- Rafael Nadal opened his 2014 campaign by winning his first title of the year in defeating Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2 at the Qatar Open on Saturday. Carmen Cavalli Jersey Online . Nadal showed why hes the top player in the world all week long. Although he wasnt in top form in this first event of the season, he battled to win his 61st career title, one shy of Guillermo Vilas total, seventh on the all-time Open era list. "I think I played my best match of the season -- of the tournament -- today," Nadal said after the exciting, two-hour final. "I was happy with how I played." Of the five matches Nadal played this week he was taken the three-set distance three times: By Tobias Kamke in the second round, Peter Gojowczyk in the quarterfinals, and then by Monfils. "The important thing is that I had a chance to survive after very tough matches this week," he said. "And it was a tougher match against a tougher opponent in the final. "Its very exciting to start the year with a title." Nadal, who reached the championship match in Doha in 2010, has been in the final of 15 of his last 18 tournaments. Last year he won a career-high 10 titles. Nadal holds a 9-2 record against Monfils. The Frenchman previously won both of their meetings in Doha, in the 2009 quarterfinals and 2012 semifinals. The 31st-ranked Monfils has been in three Doha finals, but will again go home without the trophy. Hes appeared in 20 career finals, but won only four. "Rafa is strong, hitting hard the ball," Monfils said. "Its always tough to play against him, and at the end he was a bit better than me today." Nadal dominated the first set, taking it in just 23 minutes. Monfils managed to hold serve only in the sixth game. "If I play like I did in the first set Ill be very competitive in Melbourne," Nadal said of the upcoming Australian Open. In the second set it was all about Monfils to start, as the Frenchman could do no wrong en route to a 3-0 lead. Although Nadal recouped the service break in the seventh game when Monfils netted a backhand, he couldnt bypass the Frenchman in the tiebreaker. Nadal saved thee Monfils set points at 6-3 in the tiebreaker, but on the fourth Monfils nailed the set with an ace. In the third set, Nadal broke Monfils in the fourth game when the Frenchman shipped two forehands long from 30-30. Leading 3-1, Nadal saved four break points on his serve in the fifth game to take a 4-1 lead. Nadal broke serve again on a second match point in the final game when Monfils sailed a forehand long. John Gerak Jersey Online . - Aaron Rodgers makes tough throws that can leave fans of the Green Bay Packers speechless. Bob Friedlund Jersey Online . -- Wichita State is all alone in the record book. https://www.cheapjerseysatwholesale.com/ . Assistant coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday that Edler, who played Tuesday in Nashville, is out indefinitely.For a second consecutive year, Kobe Bryants season will end prematurely. ESPNs Ramona Shelburne reported on Friday afternoon that the torn rotator cuff that the 36-year-old incurred during the Los Angeles Lakers 96-80 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday will cause Bryant to miss the rest of the season. The 17-time All-Star only appeared in six games last season due to a left knee injury. In 35 games this season, Bryant has averaged 22.3 PPG to go along with 5.6 APG, 5.7 RPG and a career-low .373 FG%. The injury to Bryant marks the third serious loss for the Lakers this season. Veteran point guard Steve Nash was ruled out for the year a week before the season, which was to be his last in the NBA, started due to a lingering back injury. Myron Baker Jersey Online. Then, during the Lakers season opener, rookie Julius Randle, the seventh-overall pick in last Junes NBA Draft, broke his right tibia, sidelining him for the rest of the season. On Thursday night, Bryant was announced as a starter for the Western Conference for the NBA All-Star Game to be held in New York City on February 15. The Lakers, 12-31, last in the Pacific Division and currently 13.5 games out of a playoff spot, are next in action on Friday night when they visit the defending NBA Champions, the San Antonio Spurs. ' ' '