Story highlights Rafael Nadal wins Barcelona title

Ninth in Catalan capital

Beats Kei Nishikori in final

Backs up Monte Carlo success

(CNN) Rafael Nadal matched a tennis legend Sunday and laid down another marker ahead of his attempt to win a 10th French Open title.

The revitalized Spaniard backed up his victory in the Monte Carlo Masters by claiming the Barcelona Open for a record ninth time, drawing him level with Argentina's Guillermo Vilas on 49 career clay-court titles.

Nadal beat two-time defending Barcelona champion Kei Nishikori 6-4 7-5 in a hotly-contested final in the Catalan capital.

It was his 10th straight victory of the European clay court season, which culminates with the second grand slam of the season in Paris next month.

Both men had reached the title match without dropping a set and something had to give.