ROME, 9 May 2005 — Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal clinched his third consecutive title by edging out Argentine ninth seed Guillermo Coria 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 in the final of the Rome Masters yesterday.
It was a remarkable performance by the 18-year-old fifth seed, who fought back from 3-0 down in the deciding set despite needing treatment on a badly bruised and blistered racquet hand.
Nadal, who triumphed in Monte Carlo and in Barcelona before arriving in the Italian capital, has won five of his seven claycourt tournaments this season.His 17-match winning streak makes him one of the favorites for the French Open, which starts in Paris on May 23.
Nadal’s win also extended Spain’s stranglehold on the Rome title, following victories by Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2001, Felix Mantilla in 2003 and Carlos Moya 12 months ago.
Henin Wins Third Successive Title With Berlin Victory
In Berlin, former world No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne clinched her third successive claycourt title when she defeated sixth seed Nadia Petrova 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to win the German Open yesterday.
The 12th-seeded Belgian has notched up 17 wins in a row, claiming the titles of three of the four events she has played since returning from illness and injury at Key Biscayne in March.
It was also her third title in Berlin having won the event in 2002 and 2003.
Having triumphed at Roland Garros in 2003, Henin-Hardenne’s run of form has made her one of the front-runners for the claycourt grand slam, which begins in Paris on May 23.
With Henin-Hardenne just two points from victory and serving for the match, a rain shower interrupted play but the 22-year-old came back to dispatch her Russian opponent who had challenged her all the way.
