Nadal back on form for fifth Rome title

Rafael Nadal rediscovered his normal form after a rare wobble on clay in the semi-finals to beat fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 7-5 6-2 in Sunday's rain-hit final and win his fifth Rome Masters title in six years.
The chinks in the armour that Latvian Ernests Gulbis exposed in Saturday's three-setter were not on show as Ferrer never threatened an upset.

The third seed broke serve twice in the gap between two rain interruptions to take the first set and assume command of the second, before cruising home.

It was not quite the superlative tennis Nadal displayed to claim his sixth Monte Carlo Masters two weeks ago but the conditions were soggy and he still looks good to take his fifth title at the upcoming French Open after an injury-hit 2009.