Nadal defeats Djokovic for record 4th Rome Masters title

ROME, May 4 (Xinhua) -- World number one Rafael Nadal beat defending champion Novak Djokovic to claim a record fourth Rome Masters title with a 7-6, 6-2 win on Sunday.

The Spaniard took the first set in a tiebreak before breaking the Serbian third seed twice in the second set to bag his fifth title of the year, his third on clay, and continue his dominance.

"Winning in Rome is a big title. I now have 15 Masters Series in my career, so that's a lot, and I'm very happy for that," said Nadal.

Sunday's victory lifted Nadal to the top of the Rome league, surpassing the record of three titles he had shared with Austrian Thomas Muster, Australian Martin Mulligan and Czech Jaroslav Drobny.

The Spaniard looked unstoppable and had a set point in the ninth game on Djokovic's serve but let his advantage slip. Nadal dropped serve in the next game with some uncharacteristic loose forehands, allowing the Serb to level at 5-5.

Djokovic smashed up a racket up for the second time this week when he immediately conceded serve again.

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Nadal takes fourth Rome title

Rafael Nadal's red-hot streak on clay continued, and no one can stop him.Spaniard picked up the fourth Masters crown. This is also the third title on the surface in three weeks.

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7-6(7/2),6-2inthefinal.(AFP/TizianaFabi)

Standing in his way is world number three Novak Djokovic. The Serb looks realy upset when he losing odd battle on his own temper.

Djokovic fought back. But still lost first set anyway by another unforced error proved critical. Nadal gunning first set 7-2.

Rome is a key warm-up for the French Open. Nadal on the way to a record fourth Rome title. Djokovic beaten Roger Federer in the semis. but the form couldn't rally here.

A double-fault handed Nadal a 6-2 win on the second set. Nadal improving his tour-best record to 38-3 this year. he also in the process making it five wins from the eight tournaments he's entered.

Nadal wins 5th successive Barcelona Open title

World number one Rafael Nadal claimed his fifth straight Barcelona Open title on Sunday. He beat fellow Spaniard and fourth seed David Ferrera 6-2, 7-5.

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The four-time defending champion made the perfect start with a break in the opening game. But, Ferrer immediately hit back with a break of his own. Nadal broke twice more, though, as his 27-year-old opponent slipped to a 5-1 deficit. Nadal rifled an ace down the middle to take the opening set.

The second set also opened with a break of serve each way before Ferrer stepped-up his game, and Nadal began spraying a few shots off the mark. Tied at 5-5, Ferrer sailed a forehand wide to hand the top seed a triple-break chance. Nadal missed the first two opportunities, but converted his sixth break point of the game. The left-hander went on to seal a 6-2, 7-5 victory in 1 hour, 49 minutes on his second match point when Ferrer sent a forehand long.

Nadal was coming off a record fifth consecutive Monte Carlos Masters triumph. He improved to 24-1 in clay court finals to pick up his fourth title of the season.

Rafael Nadal, 2009 Barcelona Open champion, said, "(I'm) more than happy, amazing for me winning here at my club, in my country, the fifth title here in a very historic tournament like Barcelona, so yeah it's a dream for me to be here."

Nadal, Federer ease into third round of Monte Carlo Masters

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal reached the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters, although his easy-looking 6-2, 6-3 win masked a rusty performance against Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela yesterday.

The Spaniard, who is gunning for a fifth successive title, a record in the professional era, looked sloppy at times but regained composure when it mattered to wrap up the win after 86 minutes.

Newly-wed Roger Federer, who could face Nadal for a fourth consecutive final at the Monte Carlo Country Club, eased past Italian Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-4.

The second-seeded Swiss appeared very relaxed on a sunbathed center court, clinching victory on his fourth match point after a final burst from Seppi.

He will next face compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka for a quarterfinal spot after the 13th seed beat Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.

"I thought I played okay. I had a good stretch at the end of the first set, beginning of the second," Federer told reporters.

"Maybe I could have made it easier for myself in the second. I had some opportunities. He hung in there and I didn't play my best. But still happy I came through so good."

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