Rafael Nadal continued his dominance of Roger Federer on clay with a 7-5 6-7 6-3 victory in the final of the Hamburg Masters.
Federer goes down in Hamburg humdinger
Rafael Nadal maintained his dominance of Roger Federer on clay with a 7-5 6-7 6-3 victory over his great rival in the final of the Hamburg Masters.
After another enthralling battle between the world's best players, the Spaniard increased his lead to 8-1 in head-to-heads on the red stuff and 10-6 on all surfaces.
In a match of ever-changing fortunes, Federer had his chances but it was his opponent who produced the big shots when it really mattered.
It also gave Nadal sweet revenge over the world number one, who ended his 81-match winning run on clay when taking the title here 12 months ago.
Federer raced into a 5-1 lead in the first set before Nadal took a time out for some massage on his right leg - and the Spaniard returned a different player.
Remarkable
He broke back twice before levelling at 5-5 and then broke again prior to serving out for what was one of the more remarkable sets played between the pair.
Nadal was on a roll and immediately broke Federer for a fourth time in succession to make it seven games in a row.
However, the world number one finally struck, breaking back to level the set before repeating the feat to move into a 4-1 lead as the momentum swung once more.
Nadal stopped the rot but Federer still served for the set at 5-3, however Nadal was in no mood to surrender and stayed in it with a pinpoint crosscourt pass as the Swiss player advanced to the net - a tactic he was increasingly using, not always successfully.
Federer saved three set points on the way to securing a tie-break, which he took 7-3 when an aggressive forehand forced Nadal to net.
But far from being deflated, the world number two stepped up a gear, storming into a 4-1 lead and successfully served out for the match at the first attempt before the crowd rose to applaud both players.
Federer admitted he was not at his best but is looking forward to renewing rivalry with Nadal in the French Open starting on May 25.
"It wasn't my best performance," he said. "To be broken that many times means there is always something you are unhappy about, but from the baseline I am playing the right type of game.
"I could have served better at the important stages and gone on the attack more maybe and played a bit more solidly, but I enjoyed the match.
"I wish I could have won today, that would have given me an even better feeling for Roland Garros, but I am feeling well.
"The three hours wasn't a problem and from the physical stand point I feel good."
