Nadal beats Federer
World No. 1 Roger Federer hasn't won a claycourt title since 2005, and if Rafael Nadal has his say, the Swiss will go winless again in 2007.Nadal was his bullish self and Federer appeared mentally shaken Sunday in the final of the Masters Series Monte Carlo, where in a repeat of last year's championship, the relentless muscle-bound Spaniard ground his way to a 6-4, 6-4 victory.Federer began the contest aggressively but his net-rushing tactic waned as the match went on. The Swiss squandered break opportunities with Nadal serving at 3-4 in the first, and the missed chances proved mentally taxing as on his next service game Federer double faulted at 0-15 and dropped serve amidst a flurry of unforced error.In the second set Nadal secured an early break as the Federer errors continued, and the Spaniard served out the match at 5-4 for his second title of the year, and second Masters Series title after Indian Wells. Nadal did not drop a set during the event, and extended his all-time record match winning streak on clay to 67. Nadal is 5-0 career versus Federer on clay, and leads their meetings 7-3 overall.The usually-confident Federer seemed to lose his nerve as the match progressed, ending with 38 unforced errors to only 19 for Nadal, and failing to convert on any of his three break point chances.Nadal became the first player to win three consecutive titles in Monte Carlo since Ilie Nastase in 1971-73. The only other players to win three Monte Carlo titles in the Open Era are Bjorn Borg (1977, 1979-80) and Thomas Muster (1992, 1995-95).Both players have been taking on ATP President Etienne de Villiers during the week in the media and in private meetings as the ATP attempts to demote Monte Carlo from Masters Series status and Nadal and Federer have led the charge to keep the event's elite status.
The next potential meeting between Federer and Nadal will be the week of May 7 in Rome, where in last years final Nadal saved two match points in a 6-7(0), 7-6(5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5) win over the Swiss.In the doubles final the American Bryan brother won their first Monte Carlo title with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Frenchmen Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet in only 49 minutes.
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