(CNN) -- Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams underlined their status as overwhelming favorites for the French Open by breezing through their respective title matches in Rome Sunday. Nadal crushed long-time rival Roger Federer 6-1 6-3 in a one-sided final at the Foro Italico. Earlier, Williams blasted 41 winners as she beat Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka by the same score. It was her 24th straight win and she is 16-0 on clay this season with three tournament wins. Nadal was playing his eighth straight final since returning from a seven-month injury layoff in February and has been on an upward curve with each successive week.
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Rafael Nadal wins Rome Masters title
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Thrashes arch-rival Roger Federer in straight sets
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30th meeting of the two greats -- 20 in finals
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Serena Williams beats Victoria Azarenka in straight sets in women's final
He now leads @placeholder 20-10 in head to head clashes with 13 of those wins coming on his favored clay surface.