Victory for Nadal in Madrid

Rafael Nadal was made to work hard before claiming his fifth Mutua Madrid Open title with victory over Austria’s Dominic Thiem.

Nadal extended his record on clay to 15-0 this season with a 7-6 (10/8) 6-4 win in La Caja Magica, securing a 30th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown to equal the record held by world No 2 Novak Djokovic.

After beating Djokovic in the semi-finals, Nadal could have been forgiven for expecting a somewhat easier contest against Thiem, who was playing in his first Masters 1000 final.

However, the 23-year-old took the first set to a tie-break.

After saving two match points on his own serve in the ninth game of the second set, Thiem had four chances to break back as Nadal served for the title.

However, the left-hander would not be denied and eventually sealed victory after two hours and 18 minutes.