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Federer tames the Lion in his den, wins Madrid Open

By RohitSharma (TennisEarth.com), Submitted On

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Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal in the final of the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open to end a six match losing streak to the current world champion.

Roger Federer did the inconceivable. He won a match against someone who is considered by many, and righteously so, as the best clay court player of all times, Rafael Nadal. The Swiss star defeated current world number one and Spanish Hero on his home soil to pick his 15th ATP World Masters 1000 title, avenging his loss in the final of the Australian Open, his only other meeting with the Numero Uno Nadal this year.

Federer started the match with a break on his only opportunity in the first set to wrap it up 6-4. The second set saw both players slug it out in the first four games. The U.S. Open champion however did not take any chances and pounced on his second break point opportunity in the fifth game of the second set and continued his consolidation, denying Nadal two break back chances in the tenth game, once with an ACE on a second serve to clinch the silverware.

This is Federer's first win in the past six encounters between the two players, giving him a new lease of life in the season already shaken to core with losses against several other top 10 players. 

After his emphatic and a much needed win, an elated Federer thanked everyone during the trophy presentation - "Hello Everybody. Sorry, no Spanish from my side but English. Thank you very much for this amazing tournament. Of course I am happy to have won this great tournament and I congratulate Rafa also and both the ladies here. And I just want to thank Manolo (Santana) , and it's an honour to play on your court, Manolo Santana Court."

"And sorry all you guys to have spoiled your party but see you next year, added Federer, understanding the crowd's disappointment on the loss of their hero." 

Nadal, gracious in defeat, said - “Roger was much better than me and deserved to win today. The surface was faster than the courts I’ve been playing on recently and suited him better.”

Today's win got the Swiss star a brand new Lexus car and a winner's check of 620,000 euros.