Rafael Nadal became the first player since 1914 to win four consecutive Monte Carlo titles with a straight-sets win over great rival Roger Federer.

The Spaniard won the 15th career meeting between the two giants of modern tennis 7-5 7-5 - his ninth victory over the Swiss.

"It is a very special moment for me," Nadal said. "I played all of the tournaments this year very well, but I didn't play the last match of every tournament well because I lost easily in Australia, I lost easily in Indian Wells and I lost easily in Miami...so winning for a fourth time in a row is very, very special.

"It's probably one of the nicest tournaments of the world."

Federer had glimpses of success, not least in the second set when he established a 4-0 lead after breaking Nadal twice but his relative weakness on clay was exposed as his opponent rallied.

"I thought I played okay," Federer said. "It was a disappointing second set, I guess, after playing the right way against him and then letting him back into the match. It was disappointing.

"Maybe I didn't play my best for sure. But it's tough against him and he deserves to win in the end... because he's a hell of a clay court player."

The first set was a close one with both men broken before Federer earned a second break when Nadal sent a long lob over the head of the Swiss and out of play.

That made the score 4-3 in Federer's favour on his serve but Nadal broke back.

The next three games went with serve before Nadal's superiority on clay started to tell and he earned two break points, taking the first with a dropping cross-court backhand to win the first set 7-5.

But Federer broke again in the first game of the second set and established a 2-0 lead when the Spaniard clipped the ball into the net.

Nadal was broken a second time and Federer won the next game to love to move 4-0 in front.

Nadal admitted he moved into damage limitation at that point.

"I just though, I'm going to lose the set, but I'll try to lose the set 6-2, not 6-0 or 6-1 so I can go into the third set with a good feeling."

He managed to do much more than that. The Spaniard held his serve for the first time in the set then broke back to 4-2 and won the next eight points to break back again and level at 4-4.

The following three games went with serve at 6-5 but a too-casual forehand into the net by the Swiss seemed to encourage Nadal who took Federer's serve to deuce.

A wide backhand gave the advantage and championship point to Nadal, converted when the Spaniard allowed a long Federer forehand to drop at his feet and out of play.

Federer almost lost in the second round to Spanish qualifier Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo on Wednesday, and despite the loss in the final, he was upbeat about how he had rebounded from that game.

"Honestly for me it's a very positive week, coming back from the brink in the (second) round, and beating great players on the way to the finals," he said. "I'm pushing Rafa today, having the feeling I can beat him, if I play the right way. And I think that's the feeling I didn't have after Monaco last year."