World No. 1 Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who had already beaten Roger Federer twice this year, in the Masters semis in Miami and Madrid, continued his domination of the Swiss maestro this time on clay, with a four sets dismantling Sunday.
Top-ranked Nadal, who entered Sunday’s tilt with a 4-0 mark against Federer at Roland Garros, with the three wins in the finals and a semis victory here back in 2005, shook off some tentative moments in the match to claim a 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-1 triumph.With the victory, the reigning U.S. Open, Wimbledon champ Nadal equaled former tennis great Bjorn Borg’s six titles at Roland Garros.
It also enabled the super Spaniard to move to an astounding 45-1 mark at the world’s lone clay-court major.
Sunday’s epic match marked the 25th time the two tennis icons have met, with Nadal hiking his lead to 17-8 over Federer in their lifetime series, including a lopsided 12-2 mark on clay.
It marked the sixth French final appearance in seven years for the 25-year-old Spanish left-hander, who captured his 46th career title.
Nadal reached the championship at Roland Garros for sixth time Friday when he trounced fourth seeded Andy Murray in straight sets in the semis, after dismantling fifth ranked Robin Soderling in a rematch in the quarterfinals.
Nadal topped the Swedish slugger Soderling in last year’s French Open finale. Soderling was responsible for the amazing Spaniard’s lone career blemish at the French Open when he stunned Nadal in the fourth round here two years ago.
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