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Federer claims first NASDAQ-100 Open Championship

Fifth title of 2005
April 4, 2005

Roger Federer had to dig deep over the weekend to rally back from two sets down against Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal. The Swiss Superstar won his 18th consecutive final when he came back to defeat 18-year-old Nadal in the NASDAQ-100 Open final 2-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-1. After claiming the title last month at the Pacific Life Open, Federer has now won back to back ATP Masters Series titles for the second time in two seasons, having won Hamburg and Toronto in 2004. This is the Swiss' first championship in Key Biscayne, and he now improves to 32-1 on the year.

“What he was thinking at 1-4 in the third set: Well, I'm hoping it's not going to be over in two games. That's really how I felt, because I had the feeling, you know, I was really missing my opportunities to actually get back in the match, especially in the second set. I really was hoping just to stay with him, at least maybe just one break between us. But then I got back played a few really good games. I pushed him to the tie-breaker,” said Federer.

In the doubles final, No.3 seeds Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi captured their first title together after defeating defending champions Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe 6-1, 6-2.

This week the ATP moves to Valencia, Spain for the Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana , and to Casablanca, Morocco for the Grand Prix Hassan II .

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