TORONTO (AP):

World No 2 Rafael Nadal defeated Nicolas Kiefer 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the Rogers Cup yesterday and closed in on the No. 1 ranking.

Nadal won his fifth straight title, including the French Open and Wimbledon and a career-best 29th successive match. The unseeded Kiefer, ranked 37th, was playing in his first ATP final since 2005.

Nadal's sixth title of the year and 30th of his career left him with a chance to dethrone top-ranked Federer at next week's Cincinnati Masters.

Federer's points cut

Nadal has cut Federer's points lead to 300 and if the Spaniard wins Cincinnati and Federer loses in the semi-finals, Nadal could end Federer's reign at the top since February 2004. Nadal has been No. 2 since July 2005.

"I'm very happy to be No 2. Because with my titles, with my points, in a normal situation I, well, would have been No. 1 before. So I think I have to be happy, very happy anyway if I am No. 1 or No. 2. Because if I am No. 2 it's because in front of me there is amazing player like Roger."