Joe Duggan (Reporter)
RAFAEL Nadal has stormed to his fifth Madrid Open win after overcoming Dominic Thiem 7-6 (10/8), 6-4.
The Mallorca marvel’s record on his favoured clay is now 15 wins and no defeats after bagging titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona in recent weeks.
Nadal saw off ninth-ranked Thiem on his fourth match point after beating Novak Djokovic in the previous round.
Nadal said: “To play here and win here means a lot to me.
“I am always very nervous and emotional to play a final in Madrid.”
Nadal won an hour-long first set in the tie-break with his fifth set point and broke Austrian Thiem in his opening service game before powering to the victory.
The win leaves King of Clay Nadal in fine form going into this month’s French Open, which he has won nine times.
The Madrid victory moves Nadal above Roger Federer to fourth in the world rankings.
