Spain celebrates Sunday of sporting success

MADRID, May 15 : Spain was celebrating a week of incredible sporting success after a trio of high-profile triumphs from its three leading sportsmen yesterday.

Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso became the first Spaniard to win his home grand prix, tennis player Rafael Nadal overpowered Roger Federer to win the Rome Masters and MotoGP rookie Dani Pedrosa claimed his maiden triumph in motorcycling's top category in China.

The lesser known Hector Barbera also claimed victory in the 250cc class in the Chinese Grand Prix to complete a brilliant day for the country's sportsmen.

The victories came just days after Sevilla produced a memorable performance to crush Middlesbrough 4-0 in the UEFA Cup final and a few days before Barcelona take on Arsenal in the final of the Champions League.

Alonso soaked up the adulation of a 130,000-strong crowd after leading seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher across the line in Montmelo.

''It is probably the best feeling I've had so far in a Formula One car,'' said the 24-year-old. ''Thanks to the fans here I felt invincible.'' Pedrosa proved that after three consecutive world championships in the 125cc and 250cc classes he is ready to meet the challenge of ending Valentino Rossi's reign as king of MotoGP.

''It was a fantastic day, just perfect, and a great result,'' said the 20-year-old. ''It was especially important because the best riders are in this category and the level is very high.'' Nadal proved he is the undisputed king of clay court tennis after a thrilling five-set victory over world number one Federer, a win that allowed the 19-year-old to equal Guillermo Vilas's record of 53 consecutive wins on the surface set back in 1977.

''I couldn't let the opportunity of equalling the record escape because I think it will be so difficult to repeat a similar run of form,'' said Nadal. ''It was an incredible victory, but the truth is I don't quite know how or why I won.'' The Spanish media revelled in the success, laying the credit at the door of the new generation of young sportsmen who had emerged in recent years.

The fact that their triumphs were over sporting greats like Schumacher, Federer and Rossi made their victories even more important, according to Spanish daily El Pais.

''Fernando Alonso, Dani Pedrosa and Rafael Nadal achieved successes that made them more than simple winners,'' said sports writer Santiago Segurola.

''If you measure champions by the quality of their opponents, then these three appear to be ready to end the hegemony of people who have become sporting legends.'' Barcelona-based daily sport labelled the trio as the ''golden generation'', while Marca, which dedicated 20 pages to its coverage of the victories, said the only triumph that could cap Sunday's successes would be if Spain won this year's World Cup.

REUTERS