Nadal claims Olympic title

Updated 13.59 Sun Aug 17 2008

Keywords: Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal has added an Olympic tennis gold to his French Open and Wimbledon titles by beating Fernando Gonzalez in the men's singles.

The Spaniard powered to a straight sets 6-3 7-6 6-3 victory over the Chilean.

Nadal, who will end Roger Federer's four-and-a-half year reign as world number one on Monday, is the first Spaniard to win an Olympic gold in tennis

Nadal got off to a red-hot start in the first set but got lucky in the second when Gonzalez, who stood toe-to-toe with the 22-year-old but fluffed an easy backhand volley on set point.

The ruthless Nadal needed no second invitation and moved in for the kill as Gonzalez began to buckle.

Gonzalez gamely hung on at 2-5 in the third set, saving three match points, but it was only delaying the inevitable and Nadal converted his fourth chance in the next game.

Nadal, who will end Roger Federer's four-and-a-half year reign as world number one on Monday, is the first Spaniard to win an Olympic gold in tennis.

The 28-year-old Gonzalez now has the full set of Olympic medals after his doubles victory in Athens four years ago, when he also took bronze in singles.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic completed the podium after beating American James Blake in the bronze medal match.