Nadal makes more history with victory

Rafael Nadal became the first player to win the Rome Masters three consecutive times Sunday by beating Fernando Gonzalez, 6-2, 6-2.

The victory extended his winning streak on clay to 77 matches. By reaching the final, the Spaniard had already broken John McEnroe’s record for consecutive victories on one surface.

“I’m very happy with my game,” Nadal said. “I’m in the best moment of my career, it’s better than ever.”

The second-ranked Nadal needed only 1 hour 24 minutes to overcome his opponent, who was never in contention against the two-time defending French Open champion.

“I’ve had the good fortune of coming here for three years and winning for three years,” Nadal said. “It’s an incredible sensation.”

It was Nadal’s fourth ATP title of the year. He also won in Indian Wells, Monte Carlo and Barcelona, and has 21-3 career record in finals.

“Fernando made way more errors than usual and I took advantage of it,” said Nadal, who has not lost on clay since Igor Andreev beat him in the quarterfinals in Spain in April 2005.

Going into the final, Gonzalez held a 3-1 edge in career meetings with Nadal, including a win in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January.

But this time Nadal took control of the match early, breaking serve in the first game and never relinquishing his grip. He won the first set with a volley that sent the sixth-ranked Gonzalez tumbling in an effort to reach the ball.

Serbian teenager Ana Ivanovic, hobbling on a taped right foot, won the German Open by beating third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4), at Berlin.

Ivanovic, who won her third career title, will reach the top 10 in the new rankings today.

Two hours earlier, Kuznetsova had eliminated Justine Henin, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, in a rain-delayed semifinal.

Akiko Morigami won her first WTA title, defeating an ailing Marion Bartoli, 6-1, 6-3, in the Prague Open final in the Czech Republic.

Bartoli, seeded first, was playing with a hip injury suffered in her morning practice.

UCLA freshman Yasmin Schnack won the decisive singles match in a 4-2 victory over Florida in the second round of the women’s NCAA championships at the L.A. Tennis Center. The Bruins (18-7) will play Northwestern on Friday in the round of 16.

USC (23-2) defeated Texas (16-10), 4-0, at Marks Stadium and will play Miami on Friday.

Pepperdine’s season ended in the second round for the sixth straight year with a 4-0 loss to host Fresno State (22-3). Pepperdine finished 20-10.

GOLF

First Norwegian

wins on LPGA Tour

Suzann Pettersen became the first Norwegian winner in LPGA Tour history, making a 1 1/2 -foot par putt after Jee Young Lee missed from about two feet on the third extra hole in the Michelob Ultra Open at Williamsburg, Va.

Both players parred the par-four 18th on the first two extra holes, and Lee seemed to have the edge the third time around when she hit her approach to about 12 feet while Pettersen’s ball rested against the high grass at the edge of the fringe.

Pettersen’s putt rolled just past the cup on the right side, leaving 1 1/2 feet, and Lee’s attempt at the victory missed to the right, leaving a short putt for the tie.

Lee quickly went to knock her ball in, seemed to rush and it skated by on the right as the crowd gasped and she looked up, astonished.

Pettersen had a bogey-free three-under-par 68 to reach the playoff in her 82nd career LPGA Tour start.

HOCKEY

Canada captures

24th world title

Canada won its 24th world championship at Moscow, getting two goals from Rick Nash in a 4-2 victory over Finland.

Eric Staal and Colby Armstrong also scored for Canada, which went undefeated in winning its first gold since 2004.

Russia won the bronze medal by beating Sweden, 3-1.

MISCELLANY

Bears’ Johnson

released from jail

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson was released from jail in Chicago after serving two months for violating parole in a 2005 weapons case.

Johnson, who had no comment, was released on good behavior after serving half his four-month sentence. He is to have a hearing with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday in New York and could face a multigame suspension by the league.

The race to sail against defending America’s Cup champion Alinghi is one step closer.

The Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals start today in Valencia, Spain, with top-ranked challenger Emirates Team New Zealand sailing against Desafio Espanol in the best-of-nine races, and American entry BMW Oracle Racing facing Italian syndicate Luna Rossa. The America’s Cup final is June 23-July 4.

Beginning the day in eighth place, the USC men rallied to finish third with 110 points in the Pacific 10 Conference track and field championships at Stanford behind double sprint victories by Ahmad Rashad.

UCLA (92) finished fourth behind Kevin Craddock’s career-best 13.48-second victory in the 110-meter hurdles. Oregon (114) won the men’s title.

Rashad won the 100 meters in 10.20 before winning the 200 in 20.56.

UCLA’s women (118.5) finished third behind overall champion Arizona State (158). Like the men, USC’s women (113) also rallied, moving from ninth to fourth on the final day.

The Sparks lost to Minnesota, 63-55, in an exhibition at Baton Rouge, La. They begin the regular season May 22 at Chicago.

PASSINGS

George Kiseda, noted sportswriter, was 80

Known for his crusading work as a sportswriter in the 1950s and ‘60s, he finished his career as a sports copy editor at The Times in 1984. Story in Section B.