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Nadal wants fourth French title
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If he was given the choice, Rafael Nadal said he would prefer to capture a fourth consecutive French Open title rather than a first Wimbledon crown.

The Spaniard, runner-up to Roger Federer the past two years at the All England Club, had previously said a Wimbledon triumph would be the greatest achievement of his career.

But after beating his fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 on Sunday to become the first man to win four successive Barcelona Opens, the world No. 2 indicated another Roland Garros would be his choice, for now at least.

"Obviously I would love to win them both," Nadal said after he followed up his Monte Carlo Masters triumph with the title in Barcelona.

"But if I had to sign for one now, I suppose I would say Roland Garros because I have won there before and want to keep that going."

Nadal has been critical of the crowded nature of the calendar this year, the result of the need to accommodate the Olympic Games.

The Spaniard now heads straight to Rome to defend his title. The tournament in Italy is the second of three Masters Series events to be staged in the space of four weeks.

Having also won in Barcelona, Nadal has warned that playing at one's top level for all four weeks is "totally impossible".

"I know I have been complaining about it but there is nothing we can do for this year," he said. "The players are united so hopefully we can do something in the future.

"I have a tough first match (in Rome) against (Juan Carlos) Ferrero or (Nicolas) Kiefer, so that helps me keep my feet on the ground.

"I am very happy to have won the first two tournaments but it is going to be very difficult for the others."

In Munich, second seed Fernando Gonzalez won the BMW Open with a 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 win over Italy's Simone Bolelli on Sunday.

Bolelli, who upset top seed Paul-Henri Mathieu to reach the final, recovered from losing the first set 7-4 on the tiebreak to level the match by taking the second on an identical scoreline.

The unseeded Italian kept fighting but fell a crucial break behind at 2-3 in the deciding set.

He then missed break point chances to hit straight back and Gonzalez held firm to clinch the match in two hours 38 minutes and secure the first prize of 59,100 euros plus a car from the sponsors.

It was a 10th career ATP tournament title for the Chilean world No. 15.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily May 6, 2008)

 

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