Nadal gets better of rival Federer once again on clay
Sunday, 27 Apr 2008 17:24
Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer for the third final in a row in Monte Carlo
Rafael Nadal has clinched his fourth straight Monte Carlo Masters title after beating Roger Federer 7-5 7-5.
He becomes the first player in over 90 years to win four straight titles on the clay of Monaco.
World number one Federer made 44 unforced errors in going down to his ninth defeat in 15 meetings against the 21-year-old.
In a tense first set, both players exchanged early breaks before Federer broke again to go 4-3 ahead.
But the world number two hit back with two successive breaks to clinch the opening set.
The second set was a topsy-turvy affair with Federer racing to a 4-0 lead after breaking his rival twice.
But the three-time French Open champion responded by reeling off five straight games.
Federer stopped the rot by winning game ten to level at 5-5, before Nadal sealed victory with another break when the Swiss star sent a backhand long on match point.
The win gives Nadal his 24th career title and confirms his position as the red-hot favourite for next month's French Open.
Nadal has won his last 22 matches in Monte Carlo, and last tasted defeat in the principality to Argentine Guillermo Coria in 2003.