Roger Federer has beaten world No1 Rafael Nadal for the first time in six matches with a 6–4, 6–4 victory in the Madrid Open. Federer's losing streak had included the finals at the French Open, Wimbledon and Australia Open, and the win takes his record against Nadal on clay to 2–9. It was Nadal's first defeat on clay in 33 matches and ended his hopes of being the first man to take all three clay tournaments in the Masters series in one season.
Both players began cautiously, Nadal showing the effects of yesterday's gruelling three-set win over Novak Djokovic, and the match followed service until the ninth set, when a Federer's bold attacking play gave him a break point which he duly took with a fierce forehand winner. He served out his next game comfortably to take the first set 6–4.
Nadal was much more assertive in the second set, holding the first and third games to love. But Federer remained in control, breaking Nadal again in game five to go 3–2 up, and served out the match to end his long losing streak against the Spaniard.