World number one Rafael Nadal looks to win his seventh successive title at the Monte Carlo Masters as he faces compatriot David Ferrer.

GAME, SET, MATCH! Rafael Nadal makes history by becoming the first man in the Open era to win the same tournament on seven successive occasions as he downs David Ferrer to win the Monte Carlo Masters! A comfortable service hold sees the world number one close out the match and take yet another title - his 44th of a glittering career!

BREAK! Nadal seizes the initiative once more as he overwhelms Ferrer with a sparkling array of groundstrokes, including one ferocious forehand cross court which sees him take the break of serve and just one game shy of victory!

Nadal does manage to hold serve, but Ferrer puts him under a great deal of pressure as he forces his opponent to find big first serves and take on enormous groundstrokes. Nadal holds his nerve!

Would you believe it? Ferrer leads the second set 5-4, and suddenly it is Nadal who finds himself under real pressure to hold serve and level it up. Can Ferrer find another break?

BREAK! Ferrer stuns Nadal by hitting back with a clinical break of serve as the world number one slumps suddenly in a very sluggish game! Ferrer is back on terms, and he is far from out of this match.

The second set is being played out at a far quicker pace than the first, and Ferrer holds serve to force Nadal to keep his composure on his own delivery and close out this final.

Nadal again holds with minimal fuss, bludgeoning a string of forehands to Ferrer's backhand side to stifle his opponent and edge closer to the title. Ferrer has to find something special to deny him now.

Ferrer slams a flurry of forehands down the line as he runs round his backhand and peppers the baseline with powerful strokes. He won't allow Nadal to run away with this.

Nadal consolidates his break of serve with a typically belligerent hold, and he slams two enormous forehands down the line to ensure that Ferrer is not afforded even a glimmer of an opportunity to get back on terms.

BREAK! Nadal seizes the initiative in this second set with a break of Ferrer's serve at the second time of asking! Ferrer wavers under pressure from his opponent, and he blasts a forehand long to concede the break of serve which gives the world number one the ascendancy!

Nadal will not be denied as he refuses to buckle on serve and closes out his opening service game of the second set with consummate ease. Ferrer attempts to go on the offensive, but he cannot find the required inspiration.

Ferrer gets going with a solid hold at the start of the second set, and the Spaniard is rewarded for his durability as he sticks in every point with Nadal and plays the percentages to good effect.

Elsewhere in the world of tennis, Vera Zvonareva powered Russia into their first Fed Cup final in three years when she beat Roberta Vinci 6-4 6-2 in the first reverse singles to give the home team a 3-0 lead against defending champions Italy.

SET NADAL! The world number one holds firm to close out the opening set with relish, pounding three enormous forehands to win points, then playing a deft volley at the net to seal the game, and with it the set! Can Ferrer take this match into a decider?

Ferrer is again given a torrid time on serve as Nadal slams two successive forehand winners down the line to take the game to 30-30, but he holds firm to close out the game and force his opponent to serve out for the set.

Nadal unleashes a stunning smash to win the opening point of the game, but again it goes to deuce as both players desperately battle for each and every ball. But Nadal comes through to hold his serve with a ferocious forehand down the line sealing it, and he moves to within a game of the set.

Nadal looks to have Ferrer on the back foot once more as he takes the game to deuce with a fierce backhand winner, but his opponent forces him to hit long after an extended rally, then the world number one plants a tame forehand into the net.

Nadal remarkably comes back from 0-40 to take the game to deuce with a string of powerful groundstrokes, before enduring an epic deuce after trading blows with Ferrer to finally hold serve and consolidate his second break!

BREAK! Nadal breaks again, and that's the third successive game in which the serve has been broken! Ferrer is kept firmly pegged back behind the baseline, and Nadal restores his advantage.

BREAK! Ferrer hits straight back, and the Spaniard shows tremendous guts and spirit to level once more with an array of flashing groundstrokes, and Nadal is unable to stave off the pressure from his opponent!