Hamburg: Top seed Rafael Nadal won the Hamburg claycourt title yesterday gaining a much-needed confidence boost after a slump in form, beating Italian eighth seed Fabio Fognini 7-5, 7-5.


Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Italy's Fabio Fognini 7-5, 7-5 in the final of the Hamburg Open yesterday. Pic/AFP 

Nadal had been beaten twice previously this season by the experienced Fognini, in Rio de Janeiro and then in Barcelona. But he got his revenge in the here, recovering from being broken in the very first game of a tight opening set and eventually clinching the title on his first match point after more than two and a half hours on court.