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The entire tennis fraternity would have heaved a collective sigh of relief when Roger Federer finally ended his 19 month losing streak to Rafael Nadal, and his title-less run since October 2008 to capture the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open, beating Nadal in Sunday's final in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

The two super heavyweights have not gone head-to-head since their epic five set battle in this year's Australian Open final in January, more to do with Federer's lack of form in 2009 than their playing schedules. Federer hadn't beaten any of th e world's top four players including Djokovic and Murray since the US Open in August last year, and was seen by most fans and tennis pundits as a rapidly declining force in the game.

Tonight's victory above anything else will restore Federer and the rest of the tour's belief that Rafa can be beaten, ending a 33-match unbeaten run on this surface for the Spaniard, and will give the Swiss legend hope that he just might be able to finally challenge Nadal on the clay of Roland Garros come the first week of June.

A visibly relieved Federer remarked, "In other years it didn´t matter whether I won or lost, I was always one of the Top two or favourites. This year it looked like other guys might come moving up but I always knew that I was going to get stronger week by week on clay.

"It´s not the moment to get carried away but it is definitely good for my confidence, especially beating Rafa in the final so it definitely proves that I am doing the right things and I am working extremely hard and it is paying off so it´s a nice feeling. I am very excited about going to Paris, whereas a couple of weeks ago I was still a little bit unsure about my game and not sure if I could win the French Open."

That being said, Nadal was involved last night in the longest match in ATP history since the best of three sets concept was introduced, having gone toe-to-toe for over four hours with Novak Djokovic in the semi-final (read more). Though Nadal was quick to brush off any suggestions that he was tired, his fatigue was clearly visible on court, and he just didn't look his usual energetic self especially in the second set.

"I never tend to use an excuse and if I'm tired it's because I played longer than I should have yesterday and today I played less, that's the way that sport works. The court was very, very fast. When you are lacking that spark, if you're able to get into the game you can slowly get back and recover but he used his tactic. He went forth from the very beginning and he was better. That's all there is to it," said Nadal

"On any court Federer is tough and the conditions here are more favourable for him and if you're not at a 100%, it's very difficult to beat him and I think he deserved to win much more than I did today."

Nadal started the match the brighter, creating an opportunity to break Federer in the very first game. Federer went on to save the break point and games went comfortably with serve till the 7th game, when Nadal once again created an opening for himself. Federer managed to save that one too, before creating his first and only opening in the set in the 9th game.

A backhand error from Nadal handed Federer the game, and the Swiss ace closed out the set with an immaculate service game to love to shock a packed home crowd.

If the crowd were worried then, they were completely silenced in the fifth game of the second set. A beautifully executed drop shot from Roger set up a second break point in the match, and he showed that he could play the big points better on the night, forcing another error from Nadal to put himself firmly in the driver's seat.

Rafa had no answer to Roger's accuracy as games went on serve till the 10th game, when Roger served for the title.

With a partisan home crowd begging for more of their national hero, Rafa hit a forehand winner at 15-30 to setup two break back points. With visions of his comeback against Djokovic looming large, everyone wondered if Nadal could pull off a Houdini act two nights in a row.

However, it was not to be as Federer saved both breakpoints before clinching the match on his second championship point in the most fitting of fashion with an ace.

Speaking after the match Federer said, "I thought I played really well, I think you have to against Rafa on clay, there are no easy ways there. He is not going to hand it to you and that is what has made him so tough the last few years on this surface. I thought I mixed it up well; I served well and was dangerous on particular return games. I thought I took all the right decisions today and in the end it looked pretty comfortable so it was a perfect win for me."

Nadal remained gracious as always, "Roger was much better than me and deserved to win today, the surface was faster than the courts I've been playing on recently and suited him better."

The French Open kicks off next Sunday (yes not Monday), do join us everyday from May 24th to 7th June.

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