Roger Federer Snaps Rafael Nadal's 33 Match Win Streak

Lawn Tennis, Paris Open, Lawn Tennis Magazine

Roger Federer Snaps Rafael Nadal's 33 Match Win Streak
By Ken Miller, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Sunday, May 17, 2009 9:20pm PST USA

Roger Federer Snaps Rafael Nadal's 33 Match Win Streak
, Hillary Sank, Lawn Tennis Magazine

Madrid--(lawntennis.org) At the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open championship final, the world number two Roger Federer of Switzerland upset the world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain 6-4, 6-4 to end Nadal's 33 match claycourt winning steak.

The victory also awarded Fee derer his first win versus Nadal in two years after he'd lost five matches to the Spaniard in a row.

Nadal appeared somewhat sluggish today after winning a four hour semifinal match yesterday in which he also had fought off a right knee injury and three matchpoints.

Roger Federer and Hillary Swank | Image: Getty Images

Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open, Lawn Tennis Magazine

“Sorry to spoil the party,” Federer told the Madrid crowd before being presented with the championship trophy by among others the American actress and Academy Award winner Hillary Swank.

Federer scored one break of serve per set for the win after striking his sixth ace of the surprisingly one-sided encounter on matchpoint number two.

“Sorry to spoil the party,” Federer told the Madrid crowd before being presented with the championship trophy by among others the American actress and Academy Award winner Hillary Swank.

“I don’t think he’s going to take any damage away from this,” Federer said. “I’m sure he’s going to be rock solid in Paris again.”

Nadal is set to seek his fifth straight French Open title in Paris beginning May25th. The Spaniard has never lost a match at Paris, and has defeated Federer in the Paris final the last three years.

“It doesn't help to play four hours yesterday,” Nadal said. “There are no positives, there is little to analyze. He broke and broke and I went home.”

“He was simply better than me,” Nadal said, who has won 150 of his last 155 claycourt matches.

In the women's Madrid championship final, played earlier Sunday, the world number one Dinara Safina of Russia earned her second straight WTA Tour singles title in as many weeks by defeating the ninth seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-2, 6-4.

Safina last week scored victory at Rome to began her current ten match winning streak.

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