Miami Open: Roger Federer beats longtime nemesis Rafael Nadal in straight sets to clinch title

Rafael Nadal has now lost his all three matches against Roger Federer this year, including the epic Australian Open final.

Miami: In a much-awaited contest, Swiss maestro Roger Federer defeated nemesis Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-4 to win his third ATP World Masters 1,000 tourney at the Miami Open in Key Biscayne, Florida.

In a contest that lasted an hour and 34 minutes, Federer dominated the proceedings right throughout the match to defeat Nadal.

The Spaniard has now lost his all three matches against Federer this year, including the epic Australian Open final.

"I`m moving up in the (Emirates ATP Rankings) and I just want to stay healthy," Federer told ESPN on Sunday after the match, Efe news reported.

"When I`m healthy and feeling good, I can produce tennis like this. That`s why taking a break and resting during the clay season and focusing on Roland Garros, the grass and the hard courts after that is best. It would be great to be No. 1 again, but it`s a long way away," the No. 4-ranked star added.

Nadal had the chance to break Federer`s serve three times in the first set, but he was not able to accomplish that task, although Federer managed to do so to his rival in the eighth game, going up at that point 5-3 and then taking the final game.

In the second set, the 35-year-old Federer, gained the advantage in the seventh game and then went up 5-4, after which Nadal was unable to recover, losing his fifth final in Miami, having gone down to defeat in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014.

"He looked good from the get-go," Federer said of Nadal after the match. "He was playing big tennis, stepping in and doing all the right things. A bit more luck on his side and the wrong decisions by me at that moment (with the score 3-3) and it could have turned very quickly. It was a very intense first set."

Federer fired 30 winners, 18 of them in the first set, against his adversary, who suffered from the effects of the high 75 per cent humidity and 28 C (82 F) heat, a situation that several times almost resulted in his racket escaping his sweaty hands.

Federer had defeated Nick Kyrgios in a three-hour semi-final duel on Friday, after winning the title at Indian Wells two weeks ago.

The Swiss champion pocketed $1,175,505 in prize money while Nadal received $573,680.

(With Agency inputs)