Nadal has won his last four matches against Federer

The 19-year-old Spaniard equalled Vilas' 26-year-old record of 53 consecutive wins on clay with an epic win over Roger Federer on Sunday.

And the Rome title also put Nadal level with Borg on 16 titles as a teenager.

But Nadal said: "I can't compare now with Borg and Vilas. I just have one Grand Slam and Borg has a lot."

He added: "I need to improve a lot, a lot, a lot to have a good comparison with Borg."

The Spaniard had another five-set win in last year's Rome final, over Guillermo Coria.

For me just to hit and move backwards again, that's not the way I learned the game Roger Federer

This time Nadal saved two match points in the final set when world number one Federer missed two forehands.

"I think Federer was maybe tougher to beat. He's more aggressive and serves very well," Nadal said after winning 6-7 (0-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-5).

"I was lucky he missed those forehands."

Federer's only defeats this season have come against Nadal and he has now lost his last four matches against the world number two.

But the Swiss star remains convinced he is closing the gap on clay, despite successive defeats in Monte Carlo and Rome.

"I already knew after Monte Carlo that I was close," said Federer. "This is another step. I'm on the right track.

"For me just to hit and move backwards again, that's not the way I learned the game. My way of thinking is come to the net and finish it at the net.