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.
Nadal now has 55 career titles with 40 coming on clay.
“The truth is that I am very happy and perhaps this victory is even more special where we have come from,” he said afterwards.
“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.”
The world number five started with intent as he broke Wawrinka in his opening service game and was then gifted a second break when the world number 15 double faulted at break point down in the third game.
Wawrinka then received treatment for a thigh injury as he struggled having come through demanding three-set matches against Grigor Dimitrov, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga and Tomas Berdych in the last three days.
And Nadal went onto serve out the first set with little difficulty 6-2.
Wawrinka did manage to keep the second set on serve early and even saved three break points to move 3-2 in front. However, he still couldn’t pressure the Nadal serve as the 11-time Grand Slam champion wasn’t even forced to face a break point in the whole match, and in Wawrinka’s next service game another double fault gave Nadal a 4-3 lead.
And much to the home crowd’s delight, Nadal served it out to extend his remarkable record to 32-2 since returning from his tendinitis injury in February.
Meanwhile, earlier, Serena Williams retained her Madrid Open title 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 who she hasn’t lost to in 12 meetings since 2004.
“Thank you to everyone, to all my fans and to Maria. I am very happy,” Williams said afterwards.
Sharapova though was left to reflect on once again coming up short against the world number one.
“Thank you to everyone for being so supportive in every single match.
“It was quite special and I wish I could have went an extra round but there are many more years for me.
“Congratulations to Serena for an excellent match and her excellent week as well.”
Williams, who would have lost her place at the top of the rankings had she lost to the Russian, was dominant from the off as she pounced on the Sharapova serve at every opportunity to roar into a 4-0 lead.
Sharapova did eventually get on the board in the fifth game, but there was little she could do to save the set as another crunching backhand return sealed it for the American 6-1.
Sharapova did manage to react at the start of the second as she broke in the first game and backed it up with two solid service games of her own to lead 3-1.
However, again Williams upped the power and depth on her groundstrokes forcing Sharapova onto the back foot and she broke back comfortably to level at 3-3 in the game.
Both players then staved off a break point in their next service games before Williams moved to with a game of victory with a comfortable hold.
And once again the Sharapova serve crumbled under the pressure as a double fault brought up three match points and Williams converted on the first as Sharapova fired long to seal victory in just over an hour and a quarter. AGENCIES
