Rome joy for Nadal

Rafael Nadal shrugged off two lengthy rain delays to beat fellow Spaniard David Ferrer and claim a fifth Rome Masters title in six years today.

After winning the Monte Carlo Masters two weeks ago, Nadal improved his record on clay this year to 10-0 with a 7-5 6-2 victory.

The win also enabled Nadal to match Andre Agassi’s record of 17 Masters Series titles.

The match was finely balanced at 4-4 in the first set when rain first forced the players off court.

When play resumed an hour later Ferrer, who had saved five break points in the fifth game, held his nerve to move into a 5-4 lead.

However, Nadal broke at his next opportunity and then saved his first break point of the match to serve out for the opening set.

The second rain break came early in the second set, but by then Nadal had broken serve for a 2-1 lead.

Another break when play eventually resumed an hour and 45 minutes later helped Nadal ease to victory and further demonstrate the Spaniard is getting back to his dominant best on clay.