• World Rankings

Nadal hails 'unimaginable' achievement

Rafael Nadal claimed his seventh Barcelona Open crown by beating David Ferrer on Sunday © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Nadal fends off Ferrer to win seventh Barcelona crown
  
• Profile: Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal has fired a warning to his rivals by claiming he is playing at a "very high level" ahead of the French Open at Roland Garros next month.

Nadal, the world's preeminent clay-court player, collected a seventh Barcelona Open title on Sunday when he beat fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 7-6(1) 7-5.

That came one week after he bagged an eighth-straight Monte Carlo Masters crown, reinforcing his status as the man to beat at the year's second grand-slam tournament.

"It's almost unimaginable to win here seven times," Nadal said. "It's a special tournament for me, at home in my club. To win at home in front of the people you know is always more special. I played at a very high level to win in Monte Carlo and now Barcelona without losing a set, but I've been playing at a high level from the beginning of the year starting in Australia.

"The emotions are always high, but probably each year they get a bit higher as you are one year older and you don't know how many chances you are going to have left.

"It was a very equal match [against Ferrer]. He didn't let me play my best level in the first set. I feel sorry for David and hope he can win here one day because he deserves it. Of course I am very happy to win two titles in a row and to start the clay court season like this."

Men's rankings: 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB), 2. Rafael Nadal (SPA), 3. Roger Federer (SWI), 4. Andy Murray (GBR), 5. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA), 6. David Ferrer (SPA), 7. Tomas Berdych (CZE), 8. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB), 9. Mardy Fish (USA), 10. John Isner (USA).

Women's rankings: 1. Victoria Azarenka (BLR), 2. Maria Sharapova (RUS), 3. Petra Kvitova (CZE), 4. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL), 5. Sam Stosur (AUS), 6. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN), 7. Marion Bartoli (FRA), 8. Li Na (CHN), 9. Serena Williams (USA), 10. Vera Zvonareva (RUS).

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.