Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after beating Roger Federer of Switzerland, during the final of the Monte Carlo Tennis Open tournament in Monaco, yesterday. - AP Photo

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP):

Roger Federer insists he is closer to figuring out how to dominate Rafael Nadal on clay - despite dropping to 1-7 on the surface against the three-time French Open champion.

The second-ranked Nadal beat Federer 7-5, 7-5 yesterday to win the Monte Carlo Masters for a fourth consecutive year, including three straight finals against Federer.

"I'm still awfully close,'' Federer said about playing Nadal on clay. "It's not going to get much easier beating him. But I'm right there and that's a good thing.''

The 12-time Grand Slam champion looked in commanding form at stages, but still lost serve six times.

"The amount of times I got broken today wasn't what I was hoping for,'' Federer said. "But at least I was finally able to break him also on (four) occasions, which is the good part.''

Federer could only win 29 per cent of second-serve points, a statistic that even shocked Nadal.

"A little bit strange because that's not normal, no?,'' Nadal said. "He's a big server.''

For a second straight year, the Spaniard did not drop a set. He now leads Federer 9-6 overall, but is only 2-5 against the top-ranked Swiss star on all other surfaces.

Four straight titles

The 21-year-old Nadal even had enough energy left to go straight back out on centre court and win the doubles title with Tommy Robredo. The Spaniards beat Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles 6-3, 6-3.

Nadal is the only player in the Open era to win four straight titles at Monte Carlo, and the first since Anthony Wilding of New Zealand (1911-14). It was Nadal's first title of the year, the 24th of his career and the 10th in a Masters series.

"Roger played a great match,'' Nadal said. "We always have good finals.''

Federer blew commanding positions in each set, breaking the second-ranked Nadal to lead 4-3 in the first and then racing to a 4-0 lead in the second.

Disappointing set

"Disappointing second set," Federer said. "After playing the right way against him and then letting him back into the match, it was disappointing. Maybe I didn't play my best. He deserves to win. I'm pushing Rafa today, having the feeling I can beat him if I play the right way. And I think that's the feeling I didn't have after (Monte Carlo) last year.''

The Spaniard has now won 22 consecutive matches at Monte Carlo since losing to Guillermo Coria in the third round five years ago.

He missed 2004 with injury. Federer was the last person to take a set from him, in the 2006 final.

Nadal has now won 98 of his past 99 matches on clay, with a loss to Federer in the 2007 Hamburg final the only blip.

The three-time French Open champion is 19-1 in clay-court finals, while Federer dropped to 7-8 on his least favorite surface. Federer has never won the Roland Garros title.

Still, Nadal thinks Federer remains the best, despite his slower start to the season than usual.

"I think he doesn't get enough credit,'' Nadal said. "It is impossible to be at 100 per cent all your career. He is still number one - the best in the world.''