Nadal Beats Federer for 4th Consecutive French Open Title

PARIS — By the fourth game, Rafael Nadal had Roger Federer kicking the clay in frustration. By the second set, the normally stoic Federer was screaming at himself.

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AP Photo/Christophe Ena

Spain's Rafael Nadal bites his cup after defeating Switzerland's Roger Federer in their men's final match of the French Open tennis tournament, Sunday, June 8, 2008 at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris.

The drubbing went on from there. Nadal won his fourth consecutive French Open title in a rout Sunday, again spoiling Federer's bid to complete a career Grand Slam.

Dominating the world's No. 1 player with astounding ease, Nadal swept six consecutive games early in the match to take control and won 6-1, 6-3, 6-0.

It was a humbling defeat for Federer, but for the No. 2-ranked Nadal, it was merely another in a series of dominating wins. He lost only 41 games in seven matches at this year's French Open.

The Spaniard became the second man to win four consecutive French Open titles. Bjorn Borg did it in 1978-81.

Nadal improved to 28-0 at Roland Garros, where he has won 84 of 91 sets. Only six-time champion Borg won more French Open men's titles.

It's the fourth consecutive year Federer arrived in Paris seeking to become the sixth man to win all four major titles. Each time he has lost to Nadal — in the semifinals in 2005, and in the final each of the past three years.