Nadal Captures Seventh Rome Championship in Win Over Federer

May 20, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Rafael_Nadal_02_9
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Rafael Nadal captured his 24th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title and seventh Internazionali BNL d’Italia championship in Rome on Sunday, defeating the second-seed Roger Federer 6-1, 6-3. "If you told me four or five months ago that after eight tournaments I would have won six titles from eight finals, I would say you are crazy," said Nadal. "To win three [ATP World Tour] Master 1000 and two [ATP World Tour] 500 tournaments is more than I ever dreamed."

With his successful comeback run and win in Rome, Nadal rises to number four in the world in the ATP Men’s Singles Rankings. It also marked the 20th time Nadal has met Federer in the finals, as Nadal upped his win total to 14 against six losses to Federer when playing for a title. 

“It didn’t go how I hoped and I was missing too many easy forehands and crucial points,” said Federer. “He does an incredible job returning form the back of the court and it is hard because he covers the court so well. You need to serve accurately. When Rafa is at his best he creates opportunities in rallies and dictates. It was difficult to change.”

Nadal has now won 41 clay-court titles during his career. In 2013, he has won three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies, including the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Mutua Madrid Open.

Nadal passed David Ferrer in the Emirates ATP Rankings for a hold of the fourth place spot. The result has huge implications for the 2013 French Open, as Nadal’s jump to fourth in the world now seeds him at the fourth position, and guarantees that the seven-time champion cannot meet world number one Novak Djokovic, number two Andy Murray or number three Federer before the semifinals. Nadal enters Roland Garros on the back of a 15-match win streak and three successive titles in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome as he bids to extend his record reign at the second major tournament of the season.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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