Nadal, who will be overtaken by Novak Djokovic as the number one player in the world regardless of the outcome of their final on Sunday, did not make a single unforced error in that second set.

Yet Novak Djokovic, who beat Nadal in straight sets in the Paris Masters on Saturday, having also defeated Federer the previous week, is the hottest player in tennis.

Nadal, who will now turn to his favorite surface of clay as he defends his ranking against the fast rising number two Djokovic, conceded he had been second best.