Rafael Nadal lifted his first title of the year on Saturday when he beat Roger Federer 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the Dubai Open final between the world's two players.
It was the Spanish teenager's third win in four meetings with the Swiss world number one and followed his semi-final victory over Federer in the 2005 French Open semi-finals after which Nadal went on to claim his first grand slam title.
"It is unbelievable to me that I can win against the best player in the world, against one of the best in history," said Nadal, who was close to tears.
"It's very important and very special for me, especially because I was three months off the court."
Nadal, who earned his 13th career title, was playing only his second tournament this year after missing three months with a foot injury that kept him out of the Masters Cup in Shanghai and the Australian Open.
The defeat ended top seed Federer's 16-match winning streak this year after he had claimed titles in Doha and at the Australian Open.
"He deserved to win today," said Federer. "He was more consistent and I sprayed a little bit at the end. I didn't go for crazy but he really played better in the end."
The 19-year-old Nadal was able to turn the match in his favour after Federer almost totally dominated the opening set.
DOMINANT START
Federer, seeking to win four titles at one event for the first time in his career, gave up only two points on serve as he broke to lead 2-0 with a forehand winner and won the final eight points of the set, closing it out with a spectacular over the shoulder backhand that forced an error from his opponent.
The Swiss was able to take control by mixing the pace well, often coming to the net and not letting Nadal settle.
In the second set, Federer led 1-0 and was 30-0 up on Nadal's serve, but the Spaniard pulled himself out of a potentially difficult situation.
"He was playing very well, much better than me," Nadal told reporters.
"He was playing very comfortably. He was playing very aggressively with his forehand. I could do nothing because I was playing very short so for him it was very easy.
"Then he had 1-0 and 0-30 but I won the game, and when I won this game I thought I will try and win every time, and if I can get back to 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 for sure I was going to have my chance."
As Federer's level of play inevitably dropped a little, Nadal became more aggressive and he managed to make an impact.
Nadal earned a break point to lead 3-2 but was too eager and netted his return, but his big forehand kept him in contention and he broke Federer to love to lead 5-4.
"At 4-4 he made one miss and I played two good points and I got the break," said Nadal. "And when I won the second set the match changed, because he was going a little bit down and my level was going up.
"I began the third set well with a break and that gave me a lot of confidence, and although he made a break too at 2-1 I was still playing well. Then at 4-4 he had one important miss with his forehand on break point and I finished very well."
In the third set, Federer hit two aces but still dropped the opening service game when Nadal hit a powerful crosscourt forehand.
Although Federer levelled at 2-2 by hitting a forehand down the line to force a backhand error, Nadal once again broke when it counted most as Federer hit a forehand marginally wide to leave Nadal serving for victory.
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