ROME, May 19 (UPI) -- Fifth-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain racked up his seventh Italian Masters title Sunday, dispatching Roger Federer in straight sets in the Rome final.
Nadal reeled off nine straight games against the second-seeded Swiss superstar to seize control, and then closed out the dominating match with a love service game to notch his sixth title of 2013.
Nadal improved to 41-2 all-time on the clay courts of Foro Italico while appearing in his eighth consecutive final since returning from a knee injury in February.
The victory was the Spanish star's 41st on a clay court, moving him past Thomas Muster for the second-most in the Open Era. He trails only Guillermo Vilas' record of 46.
The win gave him more momentum heading into next week's French Open.
Federer fell to 10-20 all-time against Nadal, including 2-13 on clay.
