Rafael Nadal beats Dominic Thiem to win Madrid Open title

Spain's Rafael Nadal has consolidated his flying start to the clay-court season by taking a record-extending fifth Madrid Open title. In Madrid today, he battled past a determined Dominic Thiem of Austria to win the crown in straight sets 7-6, 6-4.


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Thiem resisted three championship points but Nadal seized the fourth with a drop shot to the back of the court to clinch his third consecutive clay-court crown, after winning in Monte Carlo and Barcelona in April. For the 14-times Grand Slam Winner, it was also the 72nd tournament win of his career.