Nadal captures sixth Barcelona title

BARCELONA—World number one Rafael Nadal hammered Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday to win the Barcelona Open for the sixth time in seven editions.

The runaway victory in one hour, 49 minutes puts Nadal into sole third place on the all-time claycourt trophy list with 31 career titles.

Only Guillermo Vilas, with 45, and Thomas Muster, who won 40, are above him.

Nadal’s comprehensive victory over the opponent he beat a week ago for a record seventh Monte Carlo trophy was his 13th in 17 played against Ferrer, his good friend and training partner.

Spain continued to dominate the Barcelona event, with at least one Spaniard playing the final for the ninth straight year. The last non-Spaniard to win was Argentina’s Gaston Gaudio in 2002.

It was also the fifth time in the past seven years that an all-Spanish Barcelona final had involved Nadal.

The reigning French Open champion has now won 34 consecutive claycourt matches dating back to a fourth-round loss to Robin Soderling at Roland Garros in 2009.