Rafael Nadal confirmed his growing reputation by winning the first ATP title of his career in Sopot, Poland on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Spaniard produced a performance of talent and maturity on the clay - his favourite surface - to defeat Jose Acasuso of Argentina in straight sets.

Nadal, seeded sixth, took the first set 6-3 against the unseeded Acasuso and completed victory by claiming the second set 6-4.

Nadal's display also confirmed he possesses another asset crucial to playing tennis successfully - stamina.

He beat another Argentinian, Franco Squillari, and his compatriot Felix Mantilla in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively, matches that were both played on Saturday.

Although the US Open takes place on hard courts rather than the red dirt favoured by Nadal, this triumph will fill him with confidence with the final Grand Slam event of the year little more than two weeks away.