Nadal earns victory at Swedish Open

BAASTAD – Spain’s teenage tennis sensation Rafael Nadal won the 302,000-euro ATP event on Sunday for his seventh victory of the season following a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Czech Tomas Berdych.

The reigning French Open champion did not have it all his own way however against 42nd world-ranked Berdych, also 19. Nadal sailed past earlier opponents Juan Monaco of Argentina and fellow Spaniards Alberto Martin, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Robredo but Berdych offered more resistance.Berdych started brightly to win the first two games and though Nadal levelled at 2-2, Berdych motored away again to win the next four games and the set.Nadal had an easier time in the following set, taking advantage of unforced errors from his opponent, though the final set was much more closely-matched.Berdych got his strong forehand going and, in a closely contested final session, was not as convincing on important points and let slip a victory that had seemed within his grasp.Berdych’s previous career highlights were beating world number one Roger Federer in the second round of the Athens Olympic games and winning the Palermo ATP tournament last October.World number two Nadal confirmed his supremacy as the world’s top clay-courter after adding this Baastad title to other wins this season at Acapulco, Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona, Costa Do Sauipe and Roland-Garros.Sunday’s final between the two 19-year-old players was the youngest ATP Tour final this season and the first time two teenagers met in a title match since Delray Beach in 1999 when 18-year-old Lleyton Hewitt beat 18-year-old Xavier Malisse.-Nampa-AFPNadal sailed past earlier opponents Juan Monaco of Argentina and fellow Spaniards Alberto Martin, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Robredo but Berdych offered more resistance.Berdych started brightly to win the first two games and though Nadal levelled at 2-2, Berdych motored away again to win the next four games and the set.Nadal had an easier time in the following set, taking advantage of unforced errors from his opponent, though the final set was much more closely-matched.Berdych got his strong forehand going and, in a closely contested final session, was not as convincing on important points and let slip a victory that had seemed within his grasp.Berdych’s previous career highlights were beating world number one Roger Federer in the second round of the Athens Olympic games and winning the Palermo ATP tournament last October.World number two Nadal confirmed his supremacy as the world’s top clay-courter after adding this Baastad title to other wins this season at Acapulco, Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona, Costa Do Sauipe and Roland-Garros.Sunday’s final between the two 19-year-old players was the youngest ATP Tour final this season and the first time two teenagers met in a title match since Delray Beach in 1999 when 18-year-old Lleyton Hewitt beat 18-year-old Xavier Malisse.-Nampa-AFP