Nadal tops Federer at Monte Carlo

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP) -- Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer 7-5, 7-5 Sunday to win the Monte Carlo Masters for a fourth consecutive year.

For a second straight year, the Spaniard did not drop a set. Nadal has beaten the top-ranked Federer three times in the final, improving his clay-court record over the Swiss star to 7-1.

"Winning four times here is unimaginable," Nadal said.

Federer blew commanding positions in each set, breaking the second-ranked Nadal to lead 4-3 in the first and racing to a 4-0 lead in the second. Federer committed too many unforced errors, surprisingly on his forehand, to let Nadal back into the match.

The Spaniard has now won 22 consecutive matches at Monte Carlo since losing to Guillermo Coria in the third round in 2003. Federer was the last person to take a set from him in the 2006 final.Relying too much on his forehand, Federer also missed routine volleys at the net, and made 44 unforced errors