Nadal fulfils dream to beat Agassi

Top seed Rafael Nadal won his ninth title of the season on Sunday surviving a rain interruption to defeat Andre Agassi 6-3 4-6 6-2 at the Montreal Masters.

The 19-year-old French Open winner fulfilled his dream of playing the 35-year-old Agassi and made the most of his opportunity in a final lasting one hour and 58 minutes.

"Agassi is a great player," said the winner, who fell to his knees in joy in victory. "He had a little bit of bad luck today."

Agassi joked that he was glad to have played the youngster "before you retire."

It was Nadal's third title in a row after Bastad and Stuttgart last month. His success matched the victory record set by Mats Wilander, who also won nine titles in 1983 as a teenager.

The Spaniard added his first career hardcourt crown to Masters Series trophies this year on clay in Monte Carlo and Rome.

Nadal improved to 10-2 in career finals, his only two defeats occurring on cement in Auckland in 2004 and at the Miami Masters last March.

Agassi, seeking a 61st career trophy after winning his last event in Los Angeles, lost a final for the first time in Canada to leave his record in Montreal title matches at 3-1.

Nadal secured a first-set break of Agassi, an eight-time grand slam champion, in the fourth game before the veteran saved a set point to hang on for 3-5.

But a game later, the Spaniard sent Agassi wide on a return, which landed wide to end the set after 40 minutes.

Light rain then forced the pair off court for 58 minutes, with Agassi returning to level at a set apiece before losing in the third on two breaks.