Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with his trophy after winning the final of the Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Monaco April 17, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

MONACO - Rafael Nadal won his seventh straight Monte Carlo Masters title after beating David Ferrer 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday, capturing his first tournament since October and ending a run of three consecutive defeats in finals.

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The top-ranked Spaniard chalked up his 37th straight win at the clay-court event, where he has not lost since 2003. It was his 44th career title - but first since the Japan Open - and 19th at a Masters event.

"To start the clay season like this is fantastic, but it's more fantastic to win Monte Carlo another time," Nadal said. "This is the Masters tournament where I feel more emotion when I'm playing, because here in 2003 everything starts. I played qualifiers here, won two matches, and was for the very first time in my career top 100."

Nadal won the all-Spanish final when Ferrer sent the ball into the net following a brief exchange.

"Always special emotion for this tournament, I won seven in a row. Win seven times in a row (for) anyone, is almost impossible," Nadal said. "I was more tired than usual today."

The 24-year-old Nadal has lost two consecutive Masters finals this year to second-ranked Novak Djokovic, at the Sony Ericsson and BNP Paribas Open. He was also beaten by Roger Federer at the season-ending final of the ATP World Tour Finals in November.

"It was hard to lose, especially the Miami one, so I was a little bit more defensive today," Nadal said. "To lose three in a row is tough. So I was a little bit nervous when I had a chance to win."

Guillermo Coria of Argentina is the last player to beat Nadal at Monte Carlo, in the third round in 2003. Nadal missed the 2004 tournament through injury.

"Well, Rafa is incredible on clay. I mean, he's everywhere at the same time," Ferrer said through a translator. "He's the best player on clay in history."