In Barcelona, Rafael Nadal was seeking his ninth title at the event. But he faced the player who has suddenly become the man to beat in the Catalan capital, Kei Nishikori, who has won the crown the past two years.

But Nadal had added motivation, as a win in the final would give him 49th title on his favorite surface, tying him with Guilermo Vilas for the most ever.

Nishikori beat Rafa a couple years ago in Barcelona, but Nadal won the first set 6-4. That is the first set the Japanese has lost at the event this year.

The Spaniard looked to be rounding back into form, as his heavy topspin returns kept Nishikori pinned to the baseline, and Rafa pounced on a short ball at the net and smashed it home, as the top seed went in front 3-1.

Nishikori was not going to give up his title without a fight, as he got the drop shot to get back on serve at 4-3.

In the 12th game of the set, and Rafa had two break points, with Nishikori serving to stay in it, but he hit the net, and handed the match and the title to Nadal: 6-4, 7-5 the final.

It was the Spaniard's 49th crown on clay, and the 69th of his illustrious career, and the victory brings him level with Vilas's record of 49 titles on his favorite surface.

Spaniard captures record-tying 49th clay-court title