 |
| Rafael Nadal |
The top-ranked Spaniard chalked up his 37th straight win at the clay-court event, where he has not lost since 2003. It was his 44th career title and 19th at a Masters event.
Nadal won the all-Spanish final when Ferrer chopped the ball into the net following a brief exchange.
Nadal had lost his three previous career finals, twice to second-ranked Novak Djokovic, and once to No. 3 Roger Federer. It was the 24-year-old's first title since winning the Japan Open last October.
Nadal also extended his Open era record for consecutive titles at a single tournament, having set the mark when he won for the sixth time last year. Last year Nadal did not drop a set, but Andy Murray took one off him this time in Saturday's semifinal. Ferrer missed a point in the 10th game when he fluffed a overhead smash that would have put Nadal 15-30 down on his serve.
Nadal held and then broke Ferrer for the fourth time in the match.
Ferrer saved one match point when his return clipped the net and bounced just in and out of Nadal's reach.
Bopanna-Qureshi duo loses
In doubles semifinal, Rohan Bopanna of India and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan lost to Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina and Bruno Soares of Brazil 6-2, 6-7(4), 10-7(0). The duo entered the semifinals beating Daniel Nestor and Max Mirnyi 6-1, 7-5.
