Nadal claimed his fourth singles title of the season at the Real Club de Tenis

Rafael Nadal clinched his fifth successive Barcelona Open title with a 6-2 7-5 win over David Ferrer.

In a repeat of last year's final, the world number one took an imposing lead when he broke compatriot Ferrer in the first and fifth games of the first set.

The second set saw both players twice broken on serve, with Ferrer countering Nadal's powerful groundstrokes.

But the 22-year-old broke Ferrer in the 11th game before sealing his 35th singles crown a game later.

"This is much more than a dream for me," said Nadal after lifting the Conde de Godo trophy and banking 286,000 Euros (£258,295) in the process.

"I never could have imagined I'd be here winning for a fifth time. Congratulations to David. Even though it was not possible for him today he played a great tournament."

Nadal had struggled with his serve during the tournament and although he broke Ferrer in the first game of match, his opponent hit back to level to level the scores in the next game.

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But the fourth seed's serve became more erratic, making four double faults, and Nadal capitalised with two breaks to seal the first set.

Both players faltered on serve in the second set, reaching 5-5 before Nadal made the vital break in the 11th game, securing his service game for the match in one hour and 49 minutes.

The victory, the fourth all-Spanish final in the Calatan city in the past five years, maintains the Mallorcan's dominance on clay.

Nadal won his fifth consecutive Monte Carlo title last Sunday, his fourth of the season, and has only lost four times on the surface since 2005.

The French Open champion is once again favourite to retain his crown in Paris when the tournament begins at the end of May.

Nadal heads to Italy on Monday for the Rome Masters, the location of his last defeat on clay when he lost to compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero last year.

"I will try to carry my good form on into Rome," added Nadal, who has won the Rome title on three occasions. "If I manage to play at my best there I have a good chance."

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