SPORTS DIGEST: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the top two players in the world, will clash for the first time since the French Open semi-finals in the Dubai Open final today.

Spain's Nadal, who won the Roland Garros clash in four sets before lifting his first grand slam crown, beat Rainer Schuettler of Germany 6-4 6-2 after top seed Federer eased past Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-2 6-3.

Switzerland's Federer has won both his tournaments this year, including the Australian Open. Nadal, who won 11 titles last year, is playing only his second tournament since recovering from a career-threatening foot injury.

Petter Solberg put his nightmare start to the season behind him with two consecutive stage victories at the start of Rally Mexico yesterday.

The former world champion's failure to score points in both Monte Carlo and Sweden has already cost team boss David Lapworth his job but Solberg lifted the gloom yesterday.

He won the first stage in Mexico by six seconds from Ford's Mikko Hirvonen before extending his overall lead on stage two.

Again Hirvonen was his nearest challenger as Solberg stretched his advantage to 8.2 seconds.

World championship rivals Sebastien Loeb and Marcus Gronholm swapped places early in the rally as they jostled for the remaining podium position.

Citroen driver Loeb held the upper hand after stage one but Ford ace Gronholm, who leads the World Championship after two straight wins, overhauled him on stage two to lie third. World champion Loeb is just 1.2secs down in fourth.

Chris Atkinson gave Subaru more reasons to be cheerful by moving into fifth, one ahead of OMV Peugeot's Manfred Stohl.

Englishman Matthew Wilson is on course for his first World Championship points, the 18-year-old lying seventh. Irishman Gareth MacHale also impressed in the early stages, guiding his Ford to 10th place.