Rafael Nadal casts off early nerves to clinch victory in thrilling final

The momentum swung one way then the other like a pendulum but, although Federer threatened a stunning comeback, Nadal stepped things up again in the fourth set to seal victory on his first match point after three hours and 40 minutes.

The start was a surprise as a nervy Nadal, who had beaten his rival in three previous finals here, returned to something like the uncertain form he had shown in the first week as Federer raced into a 3-0 lead.

The Spaniard, who needed to win to prevent Novak Djokovic becoming No 1 in the world, was forced to save a set point and win five games in a row to take the first set.

He had gone into the match as the favourite but Federer had been superb in ending Djokovic's winning run in the semi-finals on Friday, and he picked up where he had left off.

Nadal had saved 15 of Andy Murray's 18 break points in their last-four clash, but although he denied Federer three times in his opening service game, an uncharacteristic forehand mistake on the fourth gave the third seed an early advantage. This was reminiscent of the Nadal who had looked so ill at ease during the first week of the tournament before he stepped it up against Robin Soderling and Murray.

The 25-year-old quickly improved, hitting some huge forehands, but Federer again was serving superbly and he kept Nadal at arm's length.

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A clue to the Spaniard's slow start possibly came at 2-5 when he called the trainer to attend to some heavy strapping protecting blisters on his left foot.

And, when Nadal missed with a backhand in the next game, Federer had a first set point.

He just missed with a drop shot but the top seed was having to use all his scrambling abilities to stay in contention.

Federer had not even had to face a deuce but, just when he needed it, Nadal found some of his best form to break back courtesy of a brilliant forehand.Suddenly the momentum had swung firmly in favour of Nadal and he broke again to lead 6-5 before clinching the set with another forehand winner after an hour and two minutes of play.

There were just too many errors from Federer, as there have been on most of the occasions they have met, with the 29-year-old again seeming to let doubt creep in where it would not against any other opponent.

The match-up of styles has always been in Nadal's favour, with his high topspin causing a particular problem for Federer's one-handed backhand, and the Spaniard tightened his grip with another break in the opening game of the second set.

Nadal was now playing superbly and, although Federer stopped the rot after losing seven games in a row, he just could not match his rival's level.

He at least managed to save three break points in the fifth game before fighting back from 40-0 to deuce on Nadal's serve. He thought he would get a break point too, before the Spaniard's forehand dipped viciously right onto the line.

Federer's expression, a mixture of disbelief and resignation, told a thousand words. The contest was most definitely back on, though, and the Swiss did create a break point for 4-4 with a backhand winner at the end of a stunning rally.

A backhand error put paid to that one and a second that followed, but on the third it was Nadal who mistimed a backhand.

Thunder rumbled in the background as Federer fought to move in front for the first time in the set but he could not manage it, Nadal breaking again as a backhand from the Swiss landed wide.

That left the top seed serving for the set but there was more drama to come, and this time it was not all on the court. Nadal let one set point slip away and a sudden downpour meant play had to be suspended with the score at deuce.

It was the first rain break of the whole tournament but, fortunately, it was very brief. Federer knew it was now or never and, after saving a second set point, he broke again. Both men then held serve to force a huge tie-break. Federer needed it, Nadal wanted it, and it was the Spaniard who managed to hold his nerve, winning the first four points and going on to take it 7-3.

Federer is the only man to have beaten Nadal from two sets down but that came in Miami in 2005 when the Spaniard was only 18, so repeating that now on the stage he has made his own was surely an impossible task.

It looked even more so when Federer was broken to love in the sixth game of the third set, only for the 29-year-old to show there was still some fight left by responding in kind.

When the Swiss played his best tennis it was difficult to see how he could be losing the match, but 45 unforced errors told their own story.

There were none of those in the ninth game, though, as Federer raced to 0-40, and he took the second break point to a huge roar. It must have seemed a long time since he served for the first set but this time there was no twist as he clinched the third 7-5 with a forehand winner.

Nadal was still a heavy favourite, although the odds lengthened somewhat when Federer promptly created three break points at the start of the fourth set.

The Spaniard saved them all, and from then on he did not look back. Federer held for 1-1 but he was broken to love in the fourth game and then some more Nadal magic took him to within one game of victory.

The world No 1 then brought up three match points and took the first one to seal a four-set victory after three hours and 40 minutes, equalling what had once looked an unassailable French Open record set by Borg. Now that record may well be broken.