Nadal Fillets Ferrero for Barcelona Title

"I don't think I'm the favorite," said Ferrero, who had won only three gams off Nadal weeks earlier in their first career meeting at Valencia.

After getting fed a breadstick in the opening set Sunday, Ferrero no longer had to think -- he knew he wasn't the favorite.

The No. 8-seeded Nadal put on another fierce dirt performance Sunday in Barcelona, putting down the mild threat from the former King of Clay Ferrero 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-3 for his fourth claycourt title of 2005.

"I'm delighted and feel incredibly happy with what have been an amazing two months," said the 18-year-old Nadal, who was broken only once over three sets. "It's brilliant to be ranked No. 7 in the world as early as April and it's been a dream come true to win here and in Monte Carlo. It's been a fantastic two weeks."

As once-ruler of the red dirt, Ferrero said he knows the feeling.

"He is living an unbelievable moment," Ferrero said. "He has no fear and when you're facing him on court he has that confidence -- he's playing in the zone. He doesn't give you a lot of options and he never looks tired. I tried everything and it didn't work."

Nadal did not lose a set en route to his fourth title of 2005 in five finals, and holds a 25-2 record on clay this season, the best on tour.

Nadal came up short of a sweep in the doubles final, losing 6-3, 6-3 with countryman Feliciano Lopez as an unseeded pair to No. 2 seeds Leander Paes and Nenad Zimonjic. It was the second consecutive title for Paes/Zimonjic after the Masters Series-Monte Carlo.