Hamburg  - Rafael Nadal's hopes of winning a fourth straight French Open were boosted by the Hamburg Masters title he achieved with wins over the world's best player and the best man of the year.

Nadal, 21, defeated 2008 race leader Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals and then lifted the trophy after defeating world number one Roger Federer in the final on Sunday,

7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3.

"It is great to beat the number one in the world, and the best player of the year," said Nadal.

Nadal has lost only two of his 110 matches on clay since April 2005, against Federer in the 2007 Hamburg final and against Juan Carlos Ferrero almost two weeks ago in Rome.

Nadal was handicapped by a blister under his right foot in Rome, but had a week to recover before he started his successful Hamburg title run.

Hamburg was the only big clay title eluding Nadal, who apart from his Paris treble has also won the Monte Carlo and Rome Masters, as well as Barcelona. He has won 21 of his 26 career titles on the dirt.

"This was the last big tournament (on clay) I hadn't won. I am happy to have won, that will give me a little more confidence for Roland Garros," he said.

Nadal said he will take two days off, resume training Wednesday at home in Majorca and then fly to Paris later in the week.

Federer, by contrast, will be in the French capital from Monday onwards as he makes the next attempt to win the only Grand Slam title he has never owned.

"I wish I would have won. I would have a better feeling for the French Open," said Federer, who blew a 5-1 lead in the opening set Sunday and was also 5-2 up in the second set.

Federer's season has been disappointing by his standard. Suffering from mononucleosis early in the year, he has only one 2008 title from the small clay event in Estoril, Portugal.

The Swiss superstar has already lost seven matches this year, but insisted, "I don't feel more vulnerable. The others still have to beat me."

Nadal has three 2008 titles, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Hamburg.

Djokovic also has three - Australian Open, Indian Wells and Rome - as the young Serb is emerging as a threat for the leading duo.

Djokovic could have snatched the number two ranking from Nadal had he beaten him in the epic semi on Saturday. But he gained confidence for the future despite the defeat in what he named "possibly the best match" he ever played on clay.

"I feel I am getting closer to him (Nadal) on clay," said Djokovic, who can attack Nadal's ranking again in Paris.

For Nadal, who has been the second best player behind Federer for almost three years, Djokovic is the man for the future.

"If I lose the number two I have to accept it. He has a very good chance to be number one. He is very good and very young," Nadal said. (dpa)