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Nadal wins 4th straight French Open

Rafael Nadal of Spain is jubilant after match point against Roger Federer of Switzerland during their final match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, June 8, 2008. Nadal won the title with 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. (UPI Photo/Eco Clement)
1 of 5 | Rafael Nadal of Spain is jubilant after match point against Roger Federer of Switzerland during their final match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, June 8, 2008. Nadal won the title with 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. (UPI Photo/Eco Clement) | License Photo

PARIS, June 8 (UPI) -- Rafael Nadal once again proved himself the "King of Clay," soundly beating world No. 1 Roger Federer Sunday to win his fourth straight French Open title.

The second-ranked Spaniard swept past the Swiss star 6-1, 6-3, 6-0, the third straight year he defeated Federer in the finals on the Grand Slam event's red clay.

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Nadal, 11-6 lifetime against Federer, is 28-0 all-time at the French Open and 115-2 on clay since 2005. He joined Bjorn Borg as the only men to win four straight French Open titles in the open era, which began in 1968.

Borg won in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981 and six times overall.

"The comparison with Borg is always very nice, especially because he's much better than me," Nadal said.

Federer has 12 Grand Slam titles but has never won the French Open.

"To lose the way I did today, it's obviously hard and it's a rough loss, but it's OK," he said. "I'll move on from here, and I'll try again next year."

Nadal broke Federer's serve in the first game and lost just 15 points in the set. Federer again lost serve in second set but quickly got it back before Nadal broke him again and went on to win the set. Nadal broke to open the third set, in which Federer won only 11 points and committed 10 unforced errors.

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