Nadal handles Berdych for Wimbledon crown

LONDON, July 4 (UPI) -- Top-ranked Rafael Nadal of Spain won his second Wimbledon title Sunday, defeating Czech Tomas Berdych in straight sets 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

Nadal posted his eighth career Grand Slam title in a match that lasted little more than two hours. He broke Berdych's serve four times without yielding a break of his own.

In a relentless performance, Nadal held all 15 of his service games. Nadal's last break of the 12th-seeded Berdych cemented the championship when he blasted an accurate cross court winner past the Czech, who had come to the net.

Nadal also won Wimbledon in 2008, beating Roger Federer in a memorable five-set epic. He missed last year's event due to knee injuries.

Federer, who was eliminated by Berdych in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, will drop to No. 3 in the next world rankings to be released Monday -- the first time the Swiss superstar has been out of the top two positions since late 2003.

Nadal will seek to complete a career Grand Slam in August at the U.S. Open in New York.