Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with his trophy after winning his final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland in Abu Dhabi Saturday. (Reuters) ABU DHABI: Top-ranked Rafael Nadal started 2011 with a win over his main rival, beating Roger Federer 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) Saturday to defend his title at the invitational World Tennis Championships. Both players held serve throughout the match, and Federer had the early momentum in the first tiebreaker, hitting a couple of blistering forehand winners to go up 3-0. But Nadal won the next five points and clinched the set when the Swiss hit a forehand long. In the second tiebreaker, Nadal went up 3-1 with a drop volley and Federer sent his return long on the next point. The Spaniard then set up match point with a crosscourt forehand winner and converted it when Federer hit a forehand long. “For both of us, these are the first matches of the season. So it is special for us,” Nadal said. “This is the perfect place to start the season here in Abu Dhabi.” Australia downs Belgium Former world No. 1 Justine Henin made a winning start in her latest comeback Saturday but the Belgian could not prevent her team losing to Australia at the mixed-teams Hopman Cup. In her first match since suffering a serious elbow injury when losing to compatriot Kim Clijsters at Wimbledon last June, the world No. 12 was too good for the 129th-ranked Alicia Molik, winning their women's singles match 6-4, 6-4. The result gave Belgium a 1-0 lead in the tournament's opening Group A tie, but local favorite Lleyton Hewitt, in his first match since September, leveled the clash with a 6-4, 6-3 win over the 178th-ranked Ruben Bemelmans. The Australians then clinched the tie in a match tiebreak in the mixed doubles, winning 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10/8). Despite the disparity in their rankings, it was an encouraging start to the year for 28-year-old Henin, who returned from retirement in Australia 12 months ago, reaching the Australian Open final but losing to Serena Williams. Molik is a former world No. 8 and like Henin is on the comeback trail after premature retirement, and she threatened at times to upset the diminutive Belgian. Henin's serve was shaky and she was broken five times during the 87-minute match, but her famous backhand was on the mark, including when converting set point to take the first set. The seven-times Grand Slam winner was pleased to have her first match out of the way, admitting had not been sure what to expect as she started her preparation for the Australian Open later this month in Melbourne. Clijsters beats Wozniacki In Hua Hin, Thailand, Kim Clijsters beat top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 4-6, 12-10 (champions tiebreaker) Saturday in an exhibition warmup for the Australian Open.
