Nadal routs Ferrer to claim title (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Nadal routs Ferrer to claim title

8:05am Sunday 3rd March 2013 in National Sport News © Press Association 2013

Rafael Nadal gave the clearest signal yet that he is back and firing on all cylinders by destroying fellow Spaniard and three-time defending champion David Ferrer 6-0 6-2 in the final of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.

Nadal, playing in his third straight final since coming back from knee problems, needed just 65 minutes to dispatch the man seeded one and ranked fourth in the world, thanks in no small part to the seven-time French Open champion's seven-month enforced absence.

Nadal had won 13 of the pair's previous 14 meetings on clay and immediately showed why as he broke three times to take the first set at a canter. Ferrer won just seven points on serve in the first set and, while he did at least improve on that to get on the board in the second, he could make no impression on the Nadal delivery and in the end surrendered his crown with a minimum of fuss.