Top-ranked Rafael Nadal started the new year with a win over rival Roger Federer, beating the Swiss 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) Saturday to defend his title at the World Tennis Championships exhibition tournament at Abu Dhabi.

Both players held serve throughout the match, and Federer had the early momentum in the first tie-breaker, hitting a couple of blistering forehand winners to go up 3-0. But Nadal won the next five points and clinched the set when the Swiss hit a forehand long.

Both Federer and Nadal were given byes into the semifinals of the six-player tournament. Federer beat fifth-ranked Robin Soderling on Friday while Nadal ousted Tomas Berdych.

 

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