Nadal earns 48th title

Beats countryman Ferrer 7-6 (1), 7-5

BARCELONA, SPAIN – Rafael Nadal became the first player in the Open Era to win two tournaments seven times after beating David Ferrer 7-6 (1), 7-5 in Sunday’s Barcelona Open final.

The second-ranked Nadal’s 21st straight victory on clay followed up his eighth straight win in Monte Carlo, as Nadal won the 10th allSpanish ATP final for a 48th career win.

The sixth-ranked Ferrer lost his fourth Barcelona Open final to Nadal, who saved 12 of 15 break points for a 34th straight victory at Barcelona.

Nadal skipped toward the net in celebration after hitting a backhand winner on match point. The six-time French Open champion displayed his normal resilience and steady play to overcome Ferrer in a match marked by grinding rallies and spectacular shotmaking more reminiscent of a major final.

“This is the hardest match I had on clay court this season, David always takes you to the limit,” Nadal told Spanish state TV. “A bit of it was lottery, luck fell on my side today.”

With a warm sun bearing down, the players exchanged early breaks before settling into a slugfest of powerful groundstrokes with long rallies often won by magnificently struck winners to the line.

Neither player let a shot go unchallenged, with the rhythm only disrupted in the fourth game when both players stopped as medical staff helped a spectator in the stands.

Nadal saved seven of eight break points in the first set, including five which were set points for Ferrer in the 12th game. He fired an ace to save the last before holding for the tiebreaker, and Ferrer’s double fault allowed Nadal to get ahead 4-1 as he took the first set in a gruelling 93 minutes.

Ferrer saved a triple break point, but then handed Nadal a 3-1 second set lead when his forehand sailed long.

Nadal showed a dip in concentration on his next service game as he was forced to save a triple-break chance before netting on the fourth opportunity to let his opponent back in.

Ferrer converted another break point when Nadal double-faulted to lead 5-4, but then hit wide on serve to be broken after Nadal’s incredible scramble had set up the break chance.

After serving to love to lead 6-5, Nadal’s super b cross-court forehand winner put him ahead as he broke Ferrer for the fourth time to pick up the $400,000 winner’s cheque in 2 hours, 41 minutes.

“Like always, Rafa,” said Ferrer, who has three wins already this season. “I’ve lost four times, but four times against a great.”

Only Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have beaten Nadal in a clay court final. Second-ranked Maria Sharapova cruised past top-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday to win the Porsche Grand Prix for her first title of the year.

Sharapova lost the finals of the Australian Open and Indian Wells this year to Azarenka, and the Russian had never beaten her rival from Belarus in four previous encounters in a final.

“I am really pleased to win such a tough tournament, against such tough opponents,” said Sharapova, before collecting the white sports car donated by the sponsor. “Victoria could not perform at her best because of her injury.”

Azarenka, who fell to 29-2 this year but will keep the No. 1 spot, had her playing, right wrist taped after the first set. She was seeking her fifth title of the year.

“I am disappointed to lose, but still I had a good week,” Azarenka said.

Sharapova, a former No. 1, won her 25th career title, an honour roll that also includes three Grand Slam titles.

The Russian needed 30 minutes to roll through the first set, ending it by firing an ace with her second serve.

She broke serve for a 4-3 lead and closed out the match with a service winner. Sharapova is 22-4 for the year.

“I came here mainly to warm up for the French Open, so it’s been a good week,” she said.