Nadal claims Abu Dhabi title

Rafael Nadal won the Capitala World Tennis Championships with a 7-6 7-5 victory over Sweden’s Robin Soderling in Abu Dhabi today.

Nadal took revenge for his loss to Soderling in the French Open last year in a hard-fought final.

The Spaniard won the first set in a tie-break and Soderling continued to put up a tough fight in the second as he came from 4-2 down to tie it at 4-4.

Soderling held serve to survive a first time but not the second as Nadal wore down his resistance to begin 2010 with a title.

Earlier, Roger Federer bounced back from the disappointment of losing to Soderling yesterday to dispatch David Ferrer 6-1 7-5 and claim third place in the tournament.

Federer looked inspired in the first set and although Ferrer rallied in the second, he still could not match the Swiss.