Resurgent Nadal beats Nishikori to reclaim Barcelona crown

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning his final tennis match against Gael Monfils of France at the Monte Carlo Masters. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

(Reuters) - Rafael Nadal maintained his ominous claycourt form by seizing back the Barcelona Open title from Japan's Kei Nishikori with a 6-4 7-5 victory on Sunday, matching Guillermo Vilas's record title haul on the surface.

A week after reclaiming the Monte Carlo crown, the 29-year-old Spaniard returned to another of his favourite hunting grounds to end Nishikori's two-year hold on the trophy and take his tally in the Catalan capital to nine.