MONTE CARLO, Monaco, April 17 (UPI) -- Top-ranked Rafael Nadal captured his seventh straight Monte Carlo Masters title Sunday, logging a straight-set win over fellow Spaniard David Ferrer.
Nadal downed Ferrer 6-4, 7-5, winning his 37th consecutive match on the clay courts of the Monte Carlo Country Club and picking up his first title of the 2011 season.
The clay-court win was the 30th of Nadal's career, tying him with Bjorn Borg and Manuel Orantes for third all-time, 15 behind the record held by Guillermo Vilas.
Nadal broke Ferrer in the second set for a 2-1 lead. Ferrer, seeking his third title of the year, came back to even things at 4-4, but Nadal broke him again for a 6-5 advantage and went on convert his second match point for the win.
Sixth-ranked Ferrer dropped to 11-11 all-time in ATP finals and to 4-12 lifetime against Nadal, including 1-9 on clay.
