WRAPUP 1-Tennis-Nadal wins fourth Monte Carlo title in a row

By Julien Pretot

MONTE CARLO, April 27 (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal became the first man in more than 90 years to win four consecutive Monte Carlo titles when he beat world number one Roger Federer in Sunday's final.

His 7-5 7-5 victory marked the third year in a row Nadal had beaten Federer in the climax of the Masters claycourt event and underlined his status as hot favourite to win next month's French Open for the fourth year in succession.

Before Nadal, only New Zealand's Anthony Wilding had won four consecutive titles in Monte Carlo, back in 1914.

Nadal became the first player since American Jim Courier in 1991 in Indian Wells to win the singles and doubles titles at a Masters Series event when, with compatriot Tommy Robredo, he beat Mark Knowles and Mahesh Bhupathi 6-3 6-3 in the doubles final.

The 21-year-old Nadal improved his personal record against Federer to 9-6 (7-1 on clay) and is undefeated on the Monte Carlo clay since a third-round loss to Argentine Guillermo Coria in 2003.

"I just tried to put pressure on his backhand when I had the chance, tried to be aggressive and tried to have a good long return," said Nadal after clinching his first title of the year.

"I am very happy, for sure. It is a very special moment for me. I played all the tournaments this year very well but I didn't play the last match of every tournament well because I lost easily in Australia, Indian Wells and Miami."

Federer, who lost his Australian Open crown in January and had to wait until last Sunday to claim his first title of the year in Estoril, said: "He's a tough player on clay. Maybe my attacking game did not work so well.