At just 22, Nadal Won His 5th Consecutive Barcelona Title

Nadal pounds Ferrer for fifth straight Barcelona title - BRAVO!!!
BARCELONA: Rafael Nadal won his 35th career title, and fifth in a row at the Barcelona Open, here yesterday as the world No. 1 pounded fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 6-2, 7-5 in the final.

The victory comes on the back of Nadal securing five consecutive Monte Carlo titles a week ago as the 22-year-old’s clay dominance shows no signs of slowing ahead of the French Open and a possible fifth there as well.

Nadal’s title triumph was a re-run of the 2008 edition, where he also beat Ferrer and marked the fourth all-Spanish Barcelona final in the past five years.

Nadal becomes the seventh consecutive home champion at the Real club.

“I could have never even imagined that I could win here for the fifth time,” said the champion, who played on a day when rainstorms raked the city in the morning but moved away in time for play to begin.

“Congratulations to David also. Even if it was impossible for him to win today, he had a great tournament. For me, this is much more than a dream.”

The top seed did suffer a minor blemish as he lost his first three service games of the week, the second set being more competitive as the first four games went against the server.

But once he gathered himself, the mighty Nadal finally secured a break for 6-5 and served out victory in one and three quarter hours on his second match point.

At a later news conference, Nadal said he had been impressed with Ferrer’s fightback in the second set.

“When he is playing aggressively like that he is hard to dominate,” he said.

“I was very happy with my game today and I think it was my best performance so far this year on clay.”

Nadal will have no time to celebrate as he heads directly for the Rome Masters which begins on today.

A year ago, the 22-year-old Mallorcan, looking patently exhausted, lost in his opening second round match to compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero.

“I will try to carry my good form on into Rome,” Nadal said.

“If I manage to play at my best there I have a good chance.” — AFP

http://www.thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2009/4/27/sports/3779492&sec=sports

Nadal To Win 5th Consecutive Title in Barcelona

Nadal to face Ferrer in Barcelona final
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Rafael Nadal will attempt to win his fifth straight Barcelona Open title when he meets David Ferrer on Sunday in a repeat of last year's final.

Nadal beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-2 and Ferrer rallied to defeat Fernando Gonzalez 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5) in Saturday's semifinals.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, it's an excellent start to the clay season," said Nadal, who leads 6-3 against Ferrer. "I'm enjoying the best moment of my career this past year and I have to appreciate that and feel happy about it."

Nadal has not dropped his serve throughout the tournament and saved all six of Davydenko's break points in windy conditions.

Davydenko hit too many unforced errors, often sending his backhand wide, as Nadal earned his 24th straight win on clay.

Nadal saved three break points in the first set and broke the ninth-ranked Russian twice.

In the second set, Nadal broke to lead 3-1 and then saved three more break points in the next game. The ninth-ranked Russian wasted the first chance by hitting crosscourt backhand wide, then watched Nadal slice a perfect crosscourt shot onto the line to save the second before Davydenko hit wide again.

Nadal ended the match with a passing shot down the line to even his head-to-head record to 3-3 against Davydenko, with the Spaniard winning all three matches on clay.

Nadal had a rest day Friday after his quarterfinal opponent David Nalbandian withdrew before the match with a right hip injury.

Full Art.:http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/9493366/Nadal-to-face-Ferrer-in-Barcelona-final