Nadal continues dream run

World number one overcomes Ferrer to clinch Barcelona Open title.

BARCELONA:

World number one Rafael Nadal underlined his crushing dominance on clay when he overwhelmed Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 6-2 6-4 to win a sixth Barcelona Open title in seven years.

The Spaniard followed up his victory over the fourth-seed in last week’s Monte Carlo Masters final with a display of brutal hitting and near-impeccable defence to become the first player in the Open era to win two tournaments at least six times.

His run in Barcelona, where he beat Ferrer in the 2008 and 2009 title matches, was interrupted only by his withdrawal last year due to injury, while his triumph in Monaco was his seventh straight title at the event.

Nadal ecstatic after victory over fellow countryman

The world number one was delighted at the victory, while expressing sympathy for his compatriot.

“It is incredible to come back here to my tournament and my fans after not being able to play last year,” said Nadal before hoisting aloft the huge Conde de Godo trophy.

“I am very, very happy for the win and sorry for David, who is having a fantastic year and deserves a title. It is bad luck for him having to play me in three finals but it is my sixth title here and it is a huge delight.”

Nadal’s latest success on the red dust was the 24-year-old Mallorcan’s 31st clay title, putting him one clear of Bjorn Borg and Manuel Orantes on the all-time winners’ list and third behind Guillermo Vilas (45) and Thomas Muster (40).

The Spaniard’s comprehensive victory over Ferrer was his 13th in 17 matches against his good friend and training partner.

Spain continued to dominate the Barcelona event, with at least one Spaniard playing the final for the ninth straight year.

The last non-Spaniard to win was Argentina’s Gaston Gaudio in 2002.

It was also the fifth time in the past seven years that an all-Spanish Barcelona final had involved Nadal.

Nadal wins 34th successive match on claycourt

The reigning French Open champion has now won 34 consecutive claycourt matches dating back to a fourth-round loss to Robin Soderling at Roland Garros in 2009.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2011.