Sun Jun 15 12:19:32 2008

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Nadal captures Queen's Club title in thrilling fashion

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London, England (Sports Network) - Four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal ousted Australian Open titlist Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final at the $1.12 million Artois Championships, a grass-court Wimbledon tuneup.

Nadal is the first Spaniard in 36 years to win a grass-court tournament since Andres Gimeno won at Eastbourne in 1972.

The top-seeded Nadal beat Djokovic 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 in a tightly-contested match and in the process the Spaniard extended his current overall winning streak to 17 matches. Nadal's last loss came earlier this season at the Master Series Rome when he lost to countryman Juan Carlos Ferrero in the opening round.

The 22-year-old Nadal is the first player to win Roland Garros and the Artois Championships in the same year since the tournament began in its current form in 1979, although Ilie Nastase captured both titles in 1973, winning Roland Garros and the London Grass Court Championships.

The 22-year-old Nadal is fresh off his fourth straight title at Roland Garros, where he pounded world No. 1 Roger Federer in last Sunday's finale.

Nadal improves his record in finals this year to 5-2. The Spaniard has won at least five titles in the last three years.

Nadal now holds a 9-3 lifetime record against Djokovic.