Roger Federer brought an end to Rafael Nadal's 81-match winning
streak on clay yesterday, beating the Spaniard 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 to win
the final of the Hamburg Masters and give his French Open
preparations the perfect boost.
The world No 1, who had never before beaten the Spaniard on his
favorite surface, looked to be in line for his usual humbling in
the red dirt as Nadal punished his early mistakes in brutal style
to take the first set with a couple of breaks.
Federer hit back for an early break in the second, though, and
stormed through the final set to seal his first title in five
tournaments, so ending his worst slump since he became No 1 in
February 2004.
Nadal had won 13 consecutive clay-court titles, including the
last two French Opens, during a winning run dating back to April
2005. The last man to beat him had been the Russian Igor Andreev in
the quarterfinals in Valencia that year.
"If I had to lose to anyone, Roger is the man," Nadal said out
on court. "I congratulate him on a great tournament and wish him
luck for the French."
The 20-year-old Spaniard, who had won four tournaments already
this year, started well but just seemed to run out of steam after
Federer had levelled the match.
Whether he can regain his freshness for Roland Garros, starting
in a week's time, is now the big question.
Federer, who has never won the French Open, needs to take the
Roland Garros title to become only the third man after American Don
Budge and Australian Rod Laver to hold all four majors at the same
time.
Fourth title
He will take great heart from a victory that gave him his fourth
Hamburg Masters title.
"It's great to play here again and win again," Federer said.
"I've fallen in love with this tournament."
Another victory had looked all but impossible while Nadal was
sweeping up the first set.
Federer did manage to save a couple of break points in the
opening game but he was soon in trouble again as Nadal hit a series
of forehand winners.
The Swiss let a cross-court backhand drift into the net on break
point in game three and Nadal helped himself to another break in
game five thanks to two backhand mistakes from his ragged-looking
opponent.
Federer saved break points again in his first service game in
the second set before three forehand winners in the next game gave
him his first break against the Nadal serve.
He broke again in the last game of the set to underline just how
much the balance had shifted and when Nadal let a tired forehand
slip wide on break point in game two of the third the writing was
on the wall.
"Winning 81 matches is an amazing streak," Federer said of his
opponent. "I have a lot of respect for him."
(China Daily via Agencies?May 21, 2007)