First serve percentage the key to victory, says Nadal

MONTE CARLO, Apr 22 (Reuters) Rafael Nadal said the high rate of success with his first service was the key to victory over Roger Federer in today's Monte Carlo Masters Series final.

Nadal beat the world number one 6-4 6-4 without dropping his serve in one hour and 35 minutes to extend his record winning streak on clay to 67 matches.

''That is because I served slowly,'' Nadal said when asked to explain his 80 per cent first serve success rate.

''I know that sometimes Roger plays better if you serve fast, because it's better for him when the point is going fast than if it's going slow.

''And if I serve slow I have more time for the next shot. So, well, my tactic is always to have a lot of first serve percentage inside against him,'' he added.

''Because if I miss the first serve, with the second serve it's difficult because he attacks the point very well and it becomes very difficult for me to come back in the point.'' Following his 6-0 7-5 victory over Czech Tomas Berdych yesterday, Nadal was spotted practising his serve for more than 30 minutes on one of the Monte Carlo Country Club's courts.

Despite his fifth win on clay against the world number one, Nadal still refuses to consider himself as a favourite against Federer on the slow surface.

''I knew now you were going to have this question for me. I'm going to have to say the same thing: he's the world number one and he's the favourite.'' REUTERS SHB BD2257