Roger Federer put behind the worst slump in his career as world number one with an emphatic victory over Spain's Rafael Nadal to win the Hamburg Masters on Sunday.
The Swiss, who split with his coach Tony Roche after the third round exit in Rome last week, beat Nadal 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 to snap the Spaniard's 81-match winning streak on clay.
The world number two had won 13 consecutive tournaments on clay, including the French Open titles in 2005 and 2006, and last lost on the surface to Igor Andreev in the Valencia Open quarter-finals in April 2005.
Federer brought the indomitable Nadal to his feet with his superb serves and attacking play.
The win would give Federer an added boost in his hunt for the French Open, the only Grand Slam missing in his cabinet.
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