Sun May 18 12:45:28 2008

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Nadal bests Federer in Hamburg thriller

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Hamburg, Germany (Sports Network) - Rafael Nadal toppled Roger Federer in a three-set thriller to capture the Hamburg Masters, as the two best players in the world tuned up in grand style for the upcoming French Open.

The second-seeded Nadal earned a 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 victory for his 26th career ATP singles title and third in 2008. All three this year have come on clay, a surface in which he has lost just twice in his last 110 matches.

One of those setbacks came last year in the Hamburg finale against Federer, who had won four of the previous six titles at this event. Federer posted a 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory over Nadal last year on this court, but could not duplicate the success again.

Instead, Nadal improved to 10-6 lifetime against Federer, including 8-1 on clay and 2-0 overall this year. The two also squared off in the Monte Carlo Masters finale three weeks ago, with the Spanish sensation claiming a 7-5, 7-5 victory.

The first three games of Sunday's match went to Federer and he soon opened a commanding 5-1 lead after a break of serve at love. Nadal, though, roared back and won the final six games to take the set.

Nadal's momentum carried into the second set, as he broke Federer's serve in the first game. Federer, however, captured the next four games with a pair of breaks to build a 4-1 advantage.

Serving to force a third set at 5-3, Federer quickly fell behind and faced a pair of break points. He saved both, but soon again confronted another and Nadal converted to stay in the set.

Nadal held serve in the next game and won the first three points against Federer's serve in the 11th, but the top-seeded Swiss superstar steadied himself with an ace and fought back to win five straight points to hold for 6-5.

The set went to a tiebreaker and Nadal won the first two points before Federer took control by ripping off five in a row, eventually forcing the decisive set.

Nadal came up with the first break of the third to grab a 3-1 lead and it would prove to be the difference. Federer could not break back and Nadal finally closed out the match in just under three hours.

Next up for both will be the French Open, which begins next Sunday in Paris. The two have met in the final on the famed red clay of Roland Garros each of the last three years, with Nadal prevailing each time.

For Federer, the only blemish on his incredible resume remains a French Open championship. However, this year he's only captured one title -- a clay crown in Estoril last month.

Sunday's triumph for Nadal was worth a first prize of $560,000.