World number two Rafael Nadal was crowned his second top Stuttgart title on Sunday after defeating Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-4, 7-5 in the final of the Stuttgart Cup.

With Mercedes Cup in his hand, the 21-year-old Spaniard has thus captured his sixth title of the year.

"I played a really good tournament this week and that has given me a lift after losing at Wimbledon," Nadal said in a television interview.

The French Open champion had problems with his right knee earlier in the tournament which almost forced his withdrawal.

He was again wearing strapping on Sunday but showed no obvious signs of discomfort during the match.

"I had a little luck, but I'm very happy I played well," Nadal said.

Nadal is 23-5 in career finals, the highest winning percentage in the Open era.

It was his second win at the Stuttgart Cup after his 2005 triumph and he improves his 2007 win-loss record to 56-8, with 31-1 on clay.

Nadal has now won 93 of his 94 matches on clay since April 2005, his only defeat coming against Roger Federer in the final of the Hamburg Masters in May.

The 50th-ranked Wawrinka had only won one match in eight attempts heading into the tournament after returning in May from a knee injury.　
 
 (Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2007)