rogerfederer.com - Nadal too strong for Roger

Nadal too strong for Roger

Roger's ATP Tour-record 56-match hardcourt winning streak was stopped this Saturday in Dubai. He could not stop Rafael Nadal, losing the thrilling final 6-2, 4-6, 4-6.

Roger, the winner in Dubai the last three years, had not lost a hardcourt match since falling to eventual champion Marat Safin in the 2005 Australian Open semifinals. Nadal, who was playing in just his second tournament since October because of foot and thigh injuries, improved to 3-1 against Roger. The Spanish teenage sensation defeated him in four sets in last year's French Open semifinals en route to claiming his first Grand Slam title.

Nadal was two games away from losing before breaking Roger in the ninth game of the second set, then holding to level the match. The lefthander broke Federer in the opening game of the second set before the Swiss star countered with a break three games later. But at 4-4, Nadal broke one final time, then held to close out the match.

"Rafa was simply too good today. I am happy with my performance here in Dubai," were Rogers words after the final.

Roger was playing in his ninth straight final.  He had gone 7-1 in his previous eight, with the only loss coming to David Nalbandian in the year-end Tennis Masters Cup last November.

Despite the loss, Roger is an amazing 113-5 since losing to Tomas Berdych in the second round of the 2004 Olympics.  He had been 16-0 this year, including earning the Australian Open title for his seventh Grand Slam.