NADAL OPENS THE YEAR WITH WIN.....! World number two Rafael Nadal made an emphatic start to the 2010 season with a straight sets win over compatriot David Ferrer to reach the finals of the exhibition event, being held here in Abu Dhabi. Nadal looked in total control of the match after winning the closely fought first set in a tie-break and as he pocketed a quick break and consolidated it for the win.

Ferrer makes one last attempt to comeback into the match with an impressive service hold, specially with his big backhand winners that saw him close two quick points. Nadal will now serve for the match.

Nadal starts to find his rhythm in the later stages of the set and quickly wins the service game at the expense of one loss of point to now sit with a set and a 5-2 lead.

Ferrer comes up with some really good shots to test Nadal's mobility on court. With a slight mix of sharp net play, Ferrer then holds his serve convincingly to keep his stakes alive in the match.

At 15-15, Nadal gives an opportunity to errer to comeback, atleast into the set with an unforced error, but Ferrer squanders it with a forehand error.Nadal then comes up with two good serves, the last one an ACE, to win the game and lead the match by a set and 4-1.

Ferrer makes an attempt to regroup himself in the match to grab a couple of points at the net to race to a 30-15 and then 40-30 lead in the game. With another confident serve, the Spaniard wins the game and gets on board.

Nadal continues to keep the points as short as possible to deny Ferrer any chance of a comeback in the second set. With a set and a 3-0 lead in the match, Nadal is in cruise control.

Nadal plays some swashbuckling shots to start the second game and quickly races to a 15-40 break point opportunity. Another forehand extracts an errof from Ferrer's backhand and Nadal moves into a comfort zone in the match.