TENNIS: Rafael Nadal Wins First Grass Title Since 2010

Rafael Nadal has won his first title on grass since 2010 by beating Viktor Troicki in the Mercedes Cup final. The Spaniard, who was well beaten in the French Open quarter-final by Novak Djokovic earlier this month, won 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 in Stuttgart.

Nadal, 29, hit 11 aces in his victory over the Serb and now has 66 career titles, four on grass.
He also won in Stuttgart in 2005 and 2007 when the tournament was held on clay.

Victory will boost Nadal's world ranking after the 14-time Grand Slam winner slumped to a 10-year low of 10th earlier in the month.


He is now scheduled to play at Queen's - he has been drawn against Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov in the first round - before Wimbledon begins on 29 June.

In the Topshelf Open, Italy's 23-year-old Camila Giorgi claimed her maiden title by beating Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic 7-5 6-3 in 's-Hertogenbosch.

France's Nicholas Mahut beat David Goffin of Belgium 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 in the men's event after entering the competition as a qualifier.