Nadal fends off Federer

World number one Rafael Nadal made the perfect start to 2011 as he claimed a 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/3) victory over Roger Federer in the final of the invitational World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

The Spaniard had appeared to be heading for defeat in the first set tie-break as he fell 3-0 down.

But he fought back, aided by some uncharacteristic unforced errors from his Swiss opponent, to move ahead in the match.

The second set was a similarly tight affair but Nadal moved 6-3 ahead in the tie-break before Federer hit long to give his rival the win.

The event’s third-place play-off saw Sweden’s Robin Soderling beat Czech Tomas Berdych in straight sets.