Nadal wins Madrid Open title in style

Spaniard crushes Wawrinka in straight sets for fifth triumph of 2013.

MADRID:

Rafael Nadal sealed his fifth title in seven tournaments since returning from a seven-month injury layoff as he claimed a third Madrid Masters title with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Stanislas Wawrinka yesterday.

Nadal, who now holds a 9-0 career record over the Swiss, rolled through the first set thanks to two early breaks in little over half
an hour.

And after a little more resistance from Wawrinka in the second, Nadal broke again to go ahead 4-3 before serving out to claim his 23rd Masters Series title.

“The truth is that I am very happy and perhaps this victory is even more special considering where we have come from,” he said. “Last season was a difficult season and to play for me was a dream. This is the most aggressive I have been in a match.



“I think these have been intense matches in which I have been able to play well and thanks to this excellent crowd it has been easier.”

With the win, Nadal extended his remarkable record to 32-2 since returning from his tendinitis injury in February.

Serena beats Sharapova to retain title

In the WTA event, Serena Williams retained her Madrid Open title yesterday with a devastating display to beat world number two Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-4.

The title is Williams’ 50th of her singles career and extends her amazing run
over Sharapova whom she hasn’t lost to in 12 meetings since 2004.

Williams believes winning a title on red clay for the first time since 2002 is the perfect preparation for the French Open.

“It feels good,” she said. “This court definitely plays more like Roland Garros which is a plus and great preparation.

“I’m just getting ready for Rome and then at Roland Garros we will see what happens.”

Sharapova laments slow start

Sharapova was left to reflect on once again coming up short against the 15-time Grand Slam champion, and rued a slow start after Williams surged out to a 4-0 lead in the first set.

“I started the match really slow today,” she said. “Against an opponent like her you just can’t give her that because she plays extremely well when she’s confident.

“Starting the match off like that is not going to get me anywhere, so that’s something that I wish I could have changed today.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2013.