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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. Ben Gedeon Youth Jersey . 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. Pat Elflein Vikings Jersey .com) - Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard notched a win, while second-seeded two-time champion Ana Ivanovic, third- seeded Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova and fifth seed Sabine Lisicki all exited the draw at the Generali Ladies Linz tennis event. Ben Gedeon Jersey . Last year, Matt Kuchar closed with a 4-under 68 to beat Kevin Chappell by two strokes for his second win of the 2013 season and sixth of his career. http://www.thevikingsshoponline.com/Youth-Pat-Elflein-Vikings-Jersey/ . And fellow Leaf, Jake Gardiner, hiking in Whistler.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians didnt want to talk about Julius Thomas chop block anymore and apparently neither did the Denver Broncos Pro Bowl tight end.A person with knowledge of the penalty said Thomas was fined $8,286 for his chop block on Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell last weekend. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the fine hadnt been announced yet by the NFL. ESPN first reported the fine, the first of Thomas four-year career.Arians, who had called the chop block Sunday the worst play hed seen in 37 years of coaching and refused to believe it wasnt intentional, told reporters in Tempe, Arizona, he had no reaction to the fine.No, Im tired of all that, Arians said.Thomas, who expressed remorse Monday for hurting Campbell and said it was a matter of miscommunication, not malice, wasnt in the locker room during the medias 45-minute window Wednesday.On Monday, Arians called for Thomas to be suspended for as long as Campbell is out. Campbell is expected to miss up to three weeks with a strained right MCL.The league, however, fined Thomas the same amount it penalized Peyton Manning in August for his taunting foul of Texans defensive back D.J. Swearinger following the swaggering safetys hard hit on Wes Welker.Campbell had this to say about Thomas fine: Its a max fine for an illegal block for a first-time offender. It makes sense that the NFL did something and hopefully he wont do it no more.With Campbell rushing off the right edge in a three-man front early in the second half Sunday, Manning motioned for Thomas to come out of the two-tight end backfield and line up next to left tackle Ryan Clady.At the snap, Thomas dived at Campbells knees thinking he was cut-blocking him. But it was flagged as a chop block because Clady stood in a pass block stance and didnt back away from the line of scrimmage.Never before have I been blocked like that, Campbell said. IIt (stinks). Jaleel Johnson Jersey. I dont think it was a great football play but its over and done with. Id like to move past it and get back to playing good football again.Thomas leads the NFL with seven TD catches and has an NFL-high 19 touchdown receptions since 2013, but blocking isnt his forte. He only began playing the position as a senior at Portland State in 2010 after hed exhausted his eligibility on the hardwood, where he was a power forward.Its frustrating to get hurt in a situation that could have been avoided, but you cant do anything about it now, Campbell said.Thomas has been lambasted in the Cardinals locker room and across the airwaves over the chop block. Among the most critical comments were those of Arizona linebacker Larry Foote. On Monday, he said: That looked like Karate Kid. Sweep the legs, Johnny. It was ugly. Thats a black eye to football a€” period. Even their own players knew it. Yeah, they said something, even the linemen. Hopefully it isnt coming from the sidelines. I dont want to play that game. But that should be dealt with. It dont get no uglier than that.Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton came to Thomas defence Wednesday.If you look at it from a defensive lineman point of view, how (Campbell) was lined up, he should have initiated contact with Julius, Knighton said. He should have been more aware, I think, because he was lined up on Julius. So, it wasnt like Julius came in and hit him. He just went forward. I dont know how they teach it there, but here when were in that technique, we play tight end.Knighton blamed all the fuss on how bad the play looked and Campbells status as a star and reputation as one of the classier players in the league.So is Julius, Knighton said. But its football. Were past it. Julius isnt that type of player. If they want to dwell on it, they can. But were not.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___AP Sports Writer Bob Baum contributed. 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