Nadal beats Ferrer for fourth straight Barcelona Open title

Rafael Nadal beat second-seeded David Ferrer 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 Sunday to win his fourth straight Barcelona Open title.

Nadal's 21st straight win at the tournament improved his record to 20-1 in clay court finals, including 4-0 at Barcelona. The second-ranked Spaniard, who has won 103 of his last 104 matches on clay, improved to 25-8 in finals over all surfaces.

Nadal moved to 6-3 overall against the fifth-ranked Ferrer, whom he beat on his way to a fourth straight trophy at Monte Carlo last week. The three-time French Open champion will also go for a fourth straight Masters Series title in Rome, starting Monday.

Nadal took the lead from the first game with a break of Ferrer's serve thanks to a backhand passing shot.

Ferrer fired a crosscourt forehand out to give Nadal a second break point and a 3-0 advantage. Ferrer finally held in the fifth to trail 4-1.

Ferrer gestured in disbelief after Nadal kept his serve in play before winning a third break point with a forehand down the near side for the set.

Ferrer found his forehand and placed the ball out of Nadal's reach to break at the start of the second set.

Ferrer steadied himself to put Nadal on the defensive. A screeching forehand set up a double break point chance in the sixth but Nadal saved to trail 4-3.

After trading breaks, Ferrer went back to the steady forehand for the winner that snapped Nadal's 25 set-winning streak here.

Nadal regained control in the decider with a break in the second game for a 2-0 lead, and another break in the fourth at the seventh all-Spanish final at Barcelona.