1-0 to Nadal in 2010

Rafael Nadal has won his first title of 2010, beating Robin Söderling 7-6, 7-5 in the final of the season-opening Capitala exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer defeated David Ferrer of Spain 6-1, 7-5 to finish third, after losing to Söderling for the first time in 13 matches on Friday.

Söderling had ended Nadal’s 31-game unbeaten run on clay at the French Open last year, and beat him again at the season-sending ATP Tour World Finals in London.

Nadal said overtaking Federer was not his main target for 2010.

“Everybody wants the No. 1 ranking but, believe me, for me it is not my goal for this year,” Nadal said. “To play competitively throughout and win as many tournaments as I can, that is my goal. To be happy playing, to be healthy and to play like I have played over the last two days.”

Nadal injured both knees and his abdomen last season, missing Wimbledon among other tournaments.

After losing his first match of the new season, Federer praised Söderling’s performance.

“Magnus [Norman], his coach, has been doing a great job with him and I’m sure we will be playing a number of times in the future. It was hard to play him in the very first match of the year, but I had fun,” Federer said.

swissinfo.ch and agencies