Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal swept aside defending champion Guillermo Coria of Argentina 6-3 6-1 0-6 7-5 to win the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday. Nadal, 18, dominated the first two sets and refused to panic when Coria surged back to take the third set to love.
Coria fought back from 4-1 down in the fourth but Nadal held on to win after three hours and seven minutes of play.
Nadal had squandered a similar lead to lose to Roger Federer in the Nasdaq-100 final in Miami earlier this month.
Nadal also became the youngest winner of a Masters Series title since Michael Chang in Toronto 15 years ago.
On Saturday, Coria said Nadal was the best clay court player in the world at the moment.
Nadal said memories of his nightmare loss to Federer had spurred him to victory.
Nadal: "When I went from 4-1 ahead in the fourth set to 4-4, I was really scared that Miami might happen again.
"What happened there helped me today. I didn't want to lose that way again."
Meanwhile, Coria was happy despite defeat.
"My confidence is good and I hope to continue that at Roland Garros," said Coria. "Nadal is the best player on clay this season."
MMIX
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