Nadal cruises into Monte Carlo final vs Nishikori Eagles, Foles agree to restructured deal
MONTE CARLO (Reuters) – Defending champion Rafael Nadal remains on course for an 11th Monte Carlo Masters title after beating Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinals on Saturday. It looked a straightforward afternoon for the 31-year-old Spaniard when he clinched the first three games but Dimitrov worked his way back with a quick break to make it 3-3. Nadal edged the opening set in the 10th game with a blistering forehand before he raced into a 5-0 lead in the second to stamp his authority on the match. He wrapped up the victory in an hour and 31 minutes and extended his run of consecutive sets won on clay to 34. Nadal needs to win the Masters 1000 tournament to retain No. 1 ranking ahead of Roger Federer, and will face Japan’s Kei Nishikori in Sunday’s final. “Every year is different and equally special,” Nadal said after beating Dimitrov for the 11th time in 12 career meetings. “So I’ll just focus on doing the things that I have to do to give me another chance tomorrow. That’s it. “I don’t want to think about another title yet, I just want to think about the way I have to play and try to be ready for it.” Nishikori fought back from a set down to beat Germany’s Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his first Masters final since 2016 in Montreal. Third seed Zverev looked in control when he claimed the opening set but Nishikori fought back to claim four straight games in the second to force a decider. Each player saved two break points in their first service games of the decider before Nishikori steadied himself to convert a match point in the 10th game and book a place in the final. The Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Nick Foles just keep on winning together. Even in April.
According to multiple reports Friday, the Super Bowl champs and their Super Bowl MVP agreed to a new contract which reportedly gives Foles a raise and potentially keeps the Eagles from having to make a league-altering decision during the season.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo originally reported the deal. While the final financial terms have not been disclosed, both Garafolo and ESPN’s Tim McManus reported that the new contract includes: a $2 million signing bonus, several million dollars more in performance and playing time-based incentives, and a mutual option for 2019 NFL.com’s Jeremy Bergman referred to the deal as “a raise.” Foles was reportedly scheduled to make a total of $7 million in 2018, the final year of a two-year deal he signed before last season. With the mutual option, he will still have the chance to hit the open market after next season; the option would seem to also lessen the likelihood the Eagles would look to trade Foles during the season rather than risk losing him for nothing next spring.
Foles was even drawing pretty frequent trade speculation this offseason. The issue for the Eagles was the status of starting quarterback Carson Wentz, who suffered torn knee ligaments in Week 14 last season, an injury which opened the door for Foles’ heroics.
After a shaky finish to the regular season, Foles sparkled in the postseason, culminating with the MVP performance in the 41-33 win over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Ten minutes after Garafolo tweeted the news of the contract agreement Friday, Foles tweeted a photo with his family which read “Bring your family to work day!” – seeming to confirm he was at Eagles headquarters.
In other NFL news, Indianapolis Colts general manager said quarterback Andrew Luck is still not throwing regulation footballs as he rehabs his right shoulder, but the team remains confident luck will make a full recovery.