Reuters: Rafael Nadal consolidated his flying start to the clay-court season by taking a record-extending fifth Madrid Open title on Sunday, battling past a determined Dominic Thiem to win 7-6(10-8) 6-4.

The Spaniard, who snapped a seven-match losing streak against Novak Djokovic to win their semi-final on Saturday, was given a much sterner test by Thiem than in last month’s final of the Barcelona Open.

Nadal had easily beaten Thiem 6-4 6-1 in Barcelona but got an early scare when he was broken in Sunday’s third game, soon falling 3-1 behind as the Austrian held.

Nadal broke back to win the sixth game and earned three set points at 5-4 but world number nine Thiem saved each one to eventually hold and force the tie-break.

The pair stayed neck and neck until Thiem lost his nerve and made two unforced errors in a row, gifting Nadal the set.

The 14-times grand-slam winner broke in the opening game of the second set and saved a break point in the next, maintaining a two-game advantage until a thrilling 10th game.

The 23-year-old Thiem earned two break points which Nadal saved to move within a point of the title.

Madrid winner Nadal moves to 4th in rankings

AFP: Rafael Nadal’s climb one place to fourth in the world on the strength of his Madrid Masters win was confirmed in the latest ATP rankings released Monday.

The Spaniard continued his flawless record on clay this season by beating Dominic Thiem to win the Madrid tournament for a fifth time 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 on Sunday.

The Spaniard is now 15-0 on his favoured surface this year having also picked up his 10th titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona in recent weeks.

Thiem’s reward for making the final was a two-place move to seventh.

Nadal was last ranked fourth in October last year.

The highest mover of the week was Borna Coric, who jumped 18 places to 41st after his quarter-final appearance in the Spanish capital.

1. Andy Murray (GBR) 10.360 pts

2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6.845

3. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 5.605

4. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 5.195 (+1)

5. Roger Federer (SUI) 5.035 (-1)

6. Milos Raonic (CAN) 4.180

7. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 4.035 (+2)

8. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3.735 (-1)

9. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 3.470 (-1)

10. David Goffin (BEL) 3.055