MONTE CARLO, April 28: Roger Federer believes his dreams of a career Grand Slam are still alive despite the muscle-bound nightmare of Rafael Nadal continuing to haunt him across Europe’s clay courts.

Federer was beaten by the 21-year-old Spaniard in the Monte Carlo Masters final for the third year running, his seventh defeat in eight claycourt clashes with the player who has also swept up the last three French Opens.

The Swiss superstar boasts a Grand Slam title collection of 12 but Roland Garros remains frustratingly out of reach.

However, he refuses to admit that Sunday’s 7-5, 7-5 defeat is merely the first step on Nadal’s private road to a fourth trophy in Paris.

“I pushed Rafa and I feel I can beat him if I play the right way. I didn’t have that feeling last year,” said Federer who, in 2008, has lost his Australian Open title and laboured under glandular fever.

“But I’m feeling healthy and moving well. I have come back strongly and I’m happy with the way things are.

“I came back from the brink in the first round (when he was just two points from defeat against world No 137 Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo) and I beat some great players after that.

“My attacking game didn’t work as well as it has in the past. But that can happen. I feel as if I’m awfully close,” Federer added.

Federer has now lost nine of his 15 career meetings with Nadal and has the added problem of formulating a game plan, along with coach Jose Higueras, aimed at toppling the Spaniard at the Rome Masters and then in Paris.

“He’s improving and so am I. It’s not going to get much easier beating him. But I’m right there, that’s a good thing.”

The Swiss appreciates the complexities of the Nadal mystery even more after a final which saw his opponent claim a record fourth Monte Carlo title.

The last man to achieve the feat was New Zealand’s Anthony Wilding back in 1914.

“On clay against him, you have to serve well and hit a few good shots in a row. Rafa scrambles so well and can break you at ease.

“He’s a more complete player now. He reached the doubles final here, you wouldn’t have thought that four years ago. He’s still young and improving. He plays compact and tough.”

Nadal backed up Federer’s astute judgement by teaming up with compatriot Tommy Robredo to win the doubles title with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over fourth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles.

“The doubles is important for Spain in an Olympic year,” said Nadal.

“It also helps your singles. You have to volley more, improve your movement and make adjustments. It also gives you more options.”

Nadal was 0-4 down in the second set on Sunday before he reeled off seven of the last eight games to wrap up victory.

“If I was going to lose the second set, I was going to lose 6-2 or something, anything but 6-0,” said the champion.

“So I was determined to win every point. He was controlling the court, so I had to come inside more,” Nadal added.

“To win this tournament for a fourth time is a special moment. I didn’t play well in Indian Wells or Miami and if I was going to lose here then I was going to lose playing well,” he expressed.

—AFP