Nadal Outlasts Tired Coria in ATP Beijing Final

Posted on September 19, 2005

Rafael Nadal proved the fitter in his battle with Guillermo Coria Sunday in the final of the ATP China Open at Beijing, coming from a set down to defeat the Argentine 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 to tie Roger Federer with his 10th title of the year.

"In the first set I wasn't playing badly but at 5-5 I made a few errors, which gave him the set," Nadal said. "In the second and third set I played a lot more aggressively and tried to dictate play with my forehand especially. I think that was the key of the match."

Coria had been sluggish since Friday when he was forced to play two matches in a day due to rain on Thursday, and said Nadal had luck on his side.

"He's having a big year and is very confident, and he's also got luck on his side at the moment," Coria said. "I leave the tournament happy with my form though. I'm not disappointed as today I lost against a very good player."

Nadal and Federer are the first pair of players since 1981 to win 10 titles in a season, matching John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl's runs that year. Nadal's 10 titles are a record for a teenager, eclipsing Mats Wilander's nine in 1983. Nadal is now 10-1 in finals this season, losing to Roger Federer on hardcourts in Miami.

In the all-unseeded doubles final, American Justin Gimelstob and Australian Nathan Healey defeated the Russians Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 for their first title of the year as a team.

"Beijing has treated me well," Gimelstob said. "I won the challenger last year in singles and won the doubles here last year too. I played well in singles here this week and won the doubles again so I've felt very comfortable here in Beijing."