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Nadal wins China Open
Alastair Himmer
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September 18, 2005 20:43 IST

Top seed Rafael Nadal [Images] ground down number two Guillermo Coria 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 to win the China Open in Beijing [Images], on Sunday, securing his 10th title of the year.

The Spanish teenager hit back with venom after dropping the first set, storming through the second as his Argentine opponent suffered a complete meltdown.

A pummelling backhand gave Nadal the crucial break in the third game of the final set and the French Open champion gained a double break to go up 5-2.

His game torn to shreds by Nadal, a disconsolate Coria traipsed back to his chair with shoulders slouched and cursing himself in Spanish.

Nadal had won his last 13 matches against Argentine players and he showed no mercy when serving for the match in Beijing.

The pugnacious 19-year-old finally put Coria out of his misery after one hour and 56 minutes, forcing him into a wild backhand on his first match point.

DECISIVE THING

"I was a little bit more aggressive in the second and third sets and that was the decisive thing, I think," said Nadal after claiming his second career hardcourt title.

"I know I can play on hard courts. I need to improve my game on grass but, if I play well on hard courts, I know I can win a lot of matches."

Nadal's first hardcourt title came last month when he beat Andre Agassi [Images] in the Montreal Masters final.

World number two Nadal has now beaten Coria in three finals this year following Masters Series titles on clay in Monte Carlo and Rome.

Nadal also tied Roger Federer [Images] for tournament wins in 2005 and improved his match record for the year to 72-10 to move past the world number one in victories.

Federer's record for 2005 stands at 71-3.

Nadal's first trip to Asia netted him $69,200 in prize money.

 



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