Spanish star Rafael Nadal heaped praise on the partisan Madrid crowd after staging a brilliant fightback to earn his fourth ATP Masters Series title.

The top-seeded Nadal recovered from a two-set deficit to deny eighth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia the victory in Sunday's final of the ATP Masters Series Madrid with a 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7/3) triumph.

"The public's support helped me a lot today," Nadal said.

"Elsewhere in the world, it would have been impossible to defeat Ljubicic. Thanks to them, I won this final."

The local favourite, Nadal overcame an awful start and a 2-0 deficit in the final set to claim his tour-leading 11th title of the season to surpass the total of top-ranked Roger Federer, who withdrew from this event on October 13 with an ankle injury.

"I had doubts throughout the whole match," Nadal admitted. "Two sets behind, he was playing great, I wasn't seeing the ball on his serves."

Ljubicic said: "I think my tank was a little short today because I played so much tennis in the last three weeks that maybe if I was a little fresher, I would win in three (sets).

"But what can you say? I'm not disappointed with my performance."

Nadal tied Federer for most Masters Series titles on tour this year and will have a chance to move into sole possession of the lead in Paris at the end of the month.

One of just two players ranked within the world's top five competing in the indoor tournament, Nadal's championship hopes improved when second seed Andy Roddick was upset in the first round by Croatian Ivo Karlovic.

Despite the lack of high seeds, Nadal faced a tough opponent in Ljubicic, who had won his previous two events, including Vienna last week.

After losing the opening two sets, the 19-year-old Nadal won four of the first six games of the third to extend his third career meeting with Ljubicic.

"I played very good the first two sets," Ljubicic said. "Then at 2-1 in the third set, we played two very long games. Everything changed."

With the match even, both players held serve until Nadal grabbed a 5-2 lead in the tie-breaker. Nadal then served for the match and fell to the court in exhaustion when a forehand by Ljubicic went into the net.

"Although physically I was tired, the match today was more mental than physical," Nadal said.