• Madrid Open

Federer leapfrogs Nadal with Madrid triumph

Roger Federer has now won 20 Masters 1000 titles © Getty Images

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Roger Federer climbed above Rafael Nadal and into the world No. 2 position by winning the Madrid Open title on Sunday.

Federer, who was last ranked as high as No. 2 in March 2011, defeated Tomas Berdych 3-6 7-5 7-5 on the blue clay. The Swiss maestro has also landed another blow on Nadal, equalling his record of 20 Masters 1000 titles.

Federer had taken more than a month off prior to this tournament, in which Nadal and Novak Djokovic were conquered by the controversial playing surface, but showed his enduring quality by producing a consistently high level throughout.

Berdych, who had won three of the most recent five meetings between the pair heading into this one, broke in the second game of the match, taking advantage of his first break point by pummelling a great return winner off Federer's second serve.

That one break was enough for Berdych to take the set, and deservedly so, having enjoyed plenty of success with his brave, attacking approach. He imparted plenty of venom on his second deliveries, winning 11 of 15 points contested there, as Federer failed to come up with answers when required. It was the first set he had surrendered at the tournament since his opening match against Milos Raonic.

Berdych, who looked so composed in the opening stanza, imploded in the second game of the second, his first serve plunging into disarray as Federer grabbed his first break of the match. Federer was riled in the fourth game, feeling that Berdych failed to get a drop shot back before it bounced twice, and he again let his focus slip as Berdych broke back for 5-5.

But Federer is nothing if not mentally resilient, and at the next possible opportunity he picked up a break of his own to level at one set each, with Berdych's serve again wobbling, unable to withstand the white heat of battle.

The tempo dropped significantly as the draining tempature began to take hold in the third, with mistakes occurring more regularly, and it was Berdych who cracked first as Federer moved into a 5-3 lead, which he was gifted by two double faults. Few would have bet against Federer closing out yet another title at that point - but Berdych had not read the script, and broke back immediately.

Although Berdych saved three championship points at 5-6 and 0-40, he could not hold off the tide for long, and Federer had his hands on yet another trophy.

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