(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-04-29 10:08

MONTE CARLO, Monaco - Rafael Nadal won his first title of the season yesterday, defeating top-ranked Roger Federer yet again on clay to claim his fourth consecutive Monte Carlo Masters.

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in their final match in the Monte Carlo Masters Series tennis tournament in Monaco April 27, 2008. [Agencies]

For a second straight year, the Spaniard did not drop a set. Nadal has beaten the top-ranked Federer three times in the final, improving his clay-court record over the Swiss star to 7-1.

"Winning four times here is unimaginable," Nadal said.

Federer blew commanding positions in each set, breaking the second-ranked Nadal to lead 4-3 in the first and racing to a 4-0 lead in the second.

Federer committed too many unforced errors, surprisingly on his forehand, to let Nadal back into the match.

The Spaniard has now won 22 consecutive matches at Monte Carlo since losing to Guillermo Coria in the third round in 2003. Federer was the last person to take a set from him in the 2006 final.

Relying too much on his forehand, Federer also missed routine volleys at the net, and made 44 unforced errors.

But the Swiss star seemed poised to even the match after hitting some near-perfect winners down the line and taking a 4-0 lead in the second set. Nadal struggled to hold his serve in the fifth game, but turned the match around.

Nadal rallied to 4-3, and Federer had four consecutive errors in the eighth game to lose his serve to love.

A weak backhand gave Nadal the match point and he took it at the first opportunity, before sliding on his back and raising both fists in the air.

Both players looked nervous on serve in the first set, swapping breaks for 1-1.

Federer saved a break point in the sixth game and then dominated Nadal at the net in the seventh, breaking him to move ahead 4-3.

Nadal enjoyed some luck to break back to 4-4.

A loose return bounced on the baseline and surprised Federer, who returned it into the net. Then, on breakpoint, Nadal's powerful forehand clipped the net and sent Federer the wrong way.

In the 12th game, Federer drew Nadal into the net well but then hesitated before trying a sliced backhand that Nadal read easily and flicked the ball back to take the opening set.

The Swiss started the second set in outstanding form, his angles confusing the Spaniard and using crisp volleys. He broke Nadal to love in the third game, then held easily for 4-0.