Nadal bests arch rival Federer in Madrid final

RAFAEL NADAL captured a record 18th Masters title last night - and expressed his delight at winning again on home soil.

Nadal ran out 6-4 7-6 (7-5) winner over Roger Federer in the Madrid Masters Final, reversing the result of the 2009 final - the last time the pai r had played against each other.

It was Nadal's second victory in Madrid and moves him one Masters title ahead of Andre Agassi and two in front of Federer.

Nadal, who will return to No.2 in today's rankings, is 15-0 on clay this season, having also won in Monte Carlo and Rome.

He has lost only two sets during that run and said: "The most important thing is winning at home - winning in Madrid is a dream.

"But against an opponent like Federer it was always going to be difficult."

Both players dropped serve early in the first set before the second-seeded Nadal broke decisively to lead 4-3. In the second set, Nadal won a tightly-contested tiebreak after two breaks of serve each.

Federer said: "I wasn't able to defend my title here today but I thought Rafa played an incredible clay-court season."

In the women's f inal, Venus Williams lost 6-2 7-5 to unseeded Aravane Rezai of France.

Rezai battled back from two breaks down in the second set to win her third career title in her sixth final.

Who will win, Nalby or Berdych, the answer is neither

Nalbandian pulls out of Madrid.

Looks like David felt pain again in his left hamstring, and as a precaution he decided not to play Madrid and ARAG, will be back in RG.

Berdych himself also felt pain on his hip and pulled out.

so instead of Nalby vs Berdych, it will be Russel vs Fish.

If the injury doesnt completely heal until RG, the question marks will be flying high next to the name of David Nalbandian. (thank you Noubar)

Tuesday Order of Play, Nalbandian plays the last match on the Center court

Nalby plays in the evening, we can't ask for more.

His favorite Tournament, favorite City, favorite Timing.

Nalbandian handed a tough draw in Madrid, faces Berdych in the 1st round

Former 2007 Madrid Champion David Nalbandian faces an in-form Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.

The 2 players have met twice on clay, with a H2H 1-1.

But they met 3 times on hard courts, with Nalbandian winning 3 of them.

Nalbandian played Berdych in Madrid 2007 and 2008, and he underwent surgery in 2009, and here it comes 2010, and the 2 compatriots meet again in the same tournament, hopefully with the same result as well.

Nalbandian could face Melzer in the 2nd round, and Verdasco in the 3rd, Soderling QF, Nadal, SF.

Order of play to be posted soon.

Nalbandian - Cambiasso - Batistuta [Karaoke]

Del Potro underwent wrist surgery and out for 5 months

US Open champion and world number five Juan Martin del Potro withdraws from Roland Garros and Wimbledon and faces a lengthy lay-off after undergoing wrist surgery in the United States on Tuesday.

The Argentine, 21, suffered with tendinitis in his right wrist as far back as October and has not played since January's Australian Open.

He will undergo surgery in Minnesota before returning to Argentina.

"It's not a happy moment in my life," he said, adding that the expected recuperation time will be "prolonged".

"The recuperation time is prolonged but it depends on many factors which today one cannot measure because it's all very recent," said Del Potro.

"I will get through the first days post-operation here and later return home."

Del Potro is now certain to miss the French Open and the rest of his season appears in doubt.

When he won the US Open last September, the Argentine became the first man other than Rafael Nadal to beat Roger Federer in the final of a Grand Slam tournament.

Nadal beats Ferrer and the rain in a boring Rome final

Nadal defeats Ferrer to win 5th Rome Masters.

ROME — Rafael Nadal maintained his focus through two rain delays to beat fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2 and claim his fifth Rome Masters title in six years.

Having won the Monte Carlo Masters two weeks ago to end an 11-month title drought, Nadal improved to 10-0 on clay this year and provided another signal he is back to dominating on his preferred surface after a series of injuries.

Nadal showed no signs of fatigue Sunday after pulling out a long three-set win over Ernests Gulbis in the semifinals a day earlier.

With the 17th Masters Series title of his career, Nadal matched Andre Agassi's record. Agassi achieved the feat at age 34, while Nadal is only 23.

Nadal: Gulbis is a top 10 material

ROME, May 1 (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal said Ernests Gulbis was top-10 material after the Latvian threatened to hand him a rare defeat on clay in the Rome Masters semi-finals on Saturday.

The third seed won 6-4 3-6 6-4 but the problems he had with the 40th-ranked Gulbis's powerful game put a dent in the aura of invincibility on red dirt the Spaniard appeared to have regained this season after an injury-hit 2009.

"He was really difficult to play against. All the time he was serving at 210, 215, 216, 217 (kph)," Nadal said after setting up a final meeting with compatriot David Ferrer.

"A player with this serve can be top 10 for sure," he told reporters.

Gulbis, who beat world number one Roger Federer earlier this week, was also confident he could give the big names plenty of trouble in the future.

"I'm happy with the way I'm playing. I know if I play well I can trouble anyone," he said.

"I have a good serve, I play tough shots so I hope I'll be seeded in the French Open and at Wimbledon and I don't have to play against the top players right away.

"I think I have a good chance in these tournaments if I'm stable enough, if I don't go out of my mind and if I don't take a holiday when I shouldn't be taking one," added Gulbis.

The 21-year-old said he thought Nadal was going to be harder to play against.

"I expected a little more from him today," he said. "I got into the game and didn't have any problems going into rallies with him."