World number one Roger Federer ended Rafael Nadal's 81-match winning streak on clay, beating the Spanish left-hander, 2-6 6-2 6-0, on Sunday in the final of the ATP Masters Series in Hamburg.

The victory for Federer comes a week before the start of the French Open - the only grand slam that Federer has not won - and a week after the Swiss superstar parted company with his coach Tony Roche.

"A run of 81 matches is an amazing series," Federer said. "That was a tough task to break that streak. I had to play excellent to accomplish this."

Known as the "King of Clay," Nadal was unbeaten on the surface since April 2005, a run that included 13 titles.

He was looking to become the first player in the history of the Masters Series to win all three claycourt tournaments in the same year.

"Well if I had to lose, that is the guy to lose to. He is the man," Nadal said of Federer.

Nadal had won all five of his previous matches on clay against Federer, including the semi-finals at the French Open in 2005 as the Spaniard went on to claim the first of his two Grand Slam titles.

But it was Federer who dominated today, winning the last eight games of the match.

It appeared Nadal would extend his record streak on any single surface after winning the first set, but Federer won four of the first five games of the second set.

After Nadal took the sixth game of the second set, Federer won the next eight to close out the match in emphatic fashion. Nadal began to struggle with his shots and was especially erratic on the forehand.

Federer had gone four tournaments without a title before cutting ties with Roche.