Rafael Nadal proved he is the best tennis player in the world on clay by beating Roger Federer in the final of the Hamburg Masters.

Nadal won 7-5 6-7 6-3 to take the Hamburg title for the first time in his career.

Federer dominated the early games and opened a 5-1 lead as Nadal appeared to be affected by an injury.

But the Spaniard fought back by winning six games in a row to clinch the first set.

Federer went a break up in the second but lost three games in a row as Nadal forced a tie-break, which the Swiss won.

In the final set, Nadal showed some good touches at the net and served out the match at the first attempt to claim the 26th title of his career.

Nadal has won ten of his 16 matches against Federer and eight of those victories have been on clay.

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