Tennis: Rafael Nadal equalled Guillermo Vilas's record of 53 consecutive claycourt wins when he beat Roger Federer 6-7 7-6 6-4 2-6 7-6 in the final of the Rome Masters.
Nadal's victory, his fourth in a row over the Swiss world number one, made him the first player to win back-to-back titles in the Italian capital since Thomas Muster in 1995-96.
The 19-year-old Spanish second seed had to battle all the way, though, coming from a break down in the decider and saving two matchpoints before closing out the contest in just over five hours.
Nadal, who has now won nine tournaments in a row on clay, will break Vilas's record if he beats Tommy Haas in the first round of next week's Hamburg Masters tournament.
