The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Nadal closes in on Federer with Toronto Masters title

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Nadal closes in on Federer with Toronto Masters title

TORONTO: Rafael Nadal lifted Spanish hopes of a dramatic change at the top of world tennis with his Toronto Masters victory on Sunday, the same day countryman Carlos Sastre won cycling’s Tour de France.

World No. 2 Nadal defeated German Nicolas Kiefer 6-3, 6-2, tightening the race for the No. 1 ranking still owned by Roger Federer in a year where Spaniards have enjoyed great sporting success.

Spanish surge

“This year we are doing a lot of things very well and seeing a lot of very good sportsmen in Spain,” Nadal said.

“We are very happy for everything we’ve won in the last few months, a lot of important things for the country.

“The Tour, the European Championship in football, (Formula One driver Fernando) Alonso, Roland Garros, Wimbledon.” When the focus shifts strictly to tennis, Nadal is unparalleled.

With his 29th consecutive victory — his last loss came against compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round of the Rome Masters — the Spanish World No. 2 climbed to within 300 points of Federer.

The Spanish phenomenon has now claimed 30 career titles, making him the third-youngest in the game after Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors to achieve that feat.

“I will think about the record when my career is over,” said the 22-year-old. “Right now, my most important goal was to win Toronto.”

Nadal’s victory marked his second trophy in Canada after taking the title in Montreal three years ago. He has now won his last five events, including Queen’s and Wimbledon on grass. He has seven titles in 2008 and 61 match wins against seven losses.

The ranking race will tighten next week in Cincinnati, where Federer has been training since his midweek upset loss here to Frenchman Gilles Simon.

Federer has held the top spot for more than four years and could be deposed in Cincinnati should he lose his opening match at the Masters event and Nadal went on to lift the trophy, according to ATP calculations.

In Los Angeles, Dinara Safina won her first title on U.S. soil with a clinical 6-4, 6-2 destruction of Flavia Pennetta in the East West Bank Classic on Sunday.

The powerful Russian completely dominated the Italian’s serve, breaking her six successive times to claim her second title of the year.

“Today I wanted so badly to win the final and before the match I told my coach, ‘I’m nervous, I really want to get this final,”’ said Safina.

French Open finalist Safina will rise to a career-high No. 8 when the world rankings are released on Monday.

Errani’s run continues

At Portoroz, Sara Errani of Italy won her second title in three weeks when she beat Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain 6-3, 6-3 in the Slovenia Open final on Sunday.

The results (all finals):

At Toronto (Toronto Masters): Singles: Rafael Nadal bt Nicolas Kiefer 6-3, 6-2.