Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams on fire ahead of French Open
The Spaniard blows away Federer in the Rome men's final while Serena demolishes Azarenka
Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams fired warning shots to their French Open rivals with comprehensive victories over Roger Federer and Victoria Azarenka respectively in Rome.
Nadal has produced some blistering tennis since returning from a seven-month injury absence and his seventh victory in nine years on the red clay of Rome left his Swiss rival in no doubt as to the Spaniard's prospects of lifting an eighth French Open title.
"Now he is the favourite for the French Open," said Federer.
While it was Federer's first final this year, it was Nadal's eighth, having swept aside Tomas Berdych a day after the big-serving Czech stunned world number one Novak Djokovic in the quarters.
It set up Federer and Nadal's 30th meeting, but with 19 defeats against the Spaniard - 12 of which had already come on clay - the Swiss was playing catch-up from the third game before falling to a 6-1, 6-3 loss.
The manner of Nadal's win, and the level of his performances last week, leave no doubt as to who will be the man to beat in Paris.