TENNIS:Rafael Nadal won yesterday's so-called 'Battle of the Surfaces' with an incredible tie-break victory against Roger Federer.

What began as an exhibition became an epic as the world's two best players slugged it out on a court that was grass at one end, clay at the other, on Nadal's home island of Mallorca.

In the end, it was the 20-year-old world number two who snatched a 7-5 4-6 7-6 (12/10) victory over the world number one.

Neither player had defeated the other on his favoured surface, Nadal having won all five clay-court meetings, including the last two French Open finals.

And it was Nadal who broke serve in the fourth game of the decider for a 3-1 lead but Federer hit straight back and then held serve to level at 3-3. Neither player was able to force a decisive break and the match went into a tie-break. Despite being at the clay end, Federer claimed the first mini-break to go 2-0 up, and led 4-2 at the changeover.

But Nadal came storming back on his favoured surface to force another change of ends at 6-6. The pair could not be separated, changing ends again at 9-9, but Nadal's battling qualities finally told as he broke at 11-10 for victory.

SHOW JUMPING:Jessica Kürten has dropped out of the world top 10 for the first time since 2005, writes Grania Willis. The Co Antrim-born rider is now ranked 11th in the latest standings published by the International Equestrian Federation yesterday.

Kürten spent most of last season as world number two, but has been resting her top string of horses and, as a result, slid to number 10 in last month's rankings list. The 37-year-old, who will be back on team duty in Copenhagen next week, won the British Open Championships in Birmingham two and a half weeks ago, but despite that success, has now dropped another slot to 11th in the world rankings.

Cameron Hanley remains next best of the Irish, up three places to 45th, but it is Cork man Billy Twomey who has made the biggest impression on the rankings, jumping up from 128th to 86th.

Meanwhile, all three of the Irish contenders for this week's Mitsubishi Motors Badminton three-day event have passed the first-horse inspection. First out for Ireland will be Austin O'Connor, who will be in the dressage arena this morning with Hobby du Mee. Jonty Evans on Cregwarrior and Sarah Wardell with Kincluny are the other Irish runners.n MUNSTER MHC: A Ryan Clifford hat-trick highlighted Cork's opening defence of their Munster Minor Hurling Championship title in a 3-15 to 0-9 win over Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh last evening. The corner-forward grabbed his first five minutes from the interval to leave the holders 1-8 to 0-4 in front at halftime.

CORK: D McCarthy; J Herlihy, A Kearney, E McCarthy; G O'Connor, C O'Donovan, S McDonnell, captain; D O'Sullivan (0-2), M Sexton (0-1); P Gould, D Stack (0-4), R White (0-1); L O'Farrell (0-3), M Bowles, R Clifford (3-4, 1 free). Subs: C Sheehan for Gould 43 mins, M O'Mahony for Stack 55 mins, R O'Driscoll for O'Farrell 58 mins, S O'Brien for Sexton 59 mins.

WATERFORD: S Enright; S Leahy, S Fives, P Kennedy; C Clancy, P Horkan, P Mahony; N Connors, K Geary; S Power (0-4 frees), K Duggan (0-1), Shane Kearney (Ballyduff Upper) (0-2); R Fenton, C Moloney (0-1), G Crotty. Subs: C Curran (0-1) for Geary half-time, A O'Neill for Clancy 43 mins, Shane Kearney (Brickey Rangers) for Crotty 47 mins, J Foran for Horkan 54 mins, T Casey for O'Neill injured 56 mins.

Referee: J Healy (Clare).

All-Ireland champions, Tipperary, qualified for the semi-finals with a 3-12 to 1-11 victory over Clare at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, last night.

TIPPERARY: J Logue, S O'Brien, P Maher, J Coughlan, M Cahill, B Maher, D O'Connor, N McGrath (0-3), J Gallagher, S Hennessey (0-5), K Lorrigan (0-2), M Heffernan (0-1), J O'Neill (2-0), P Maher (1-0), D O'Brien. Subs: J Barry for Gallagher , S Carey for O'Brien, P O'Brien for B Maher, L Dwan for McGrath, T Treacy for Barry.

CLARE: D Tuohy, D Nash, J Fennessey, J Gunning, N O'Connell (0-1), C Duggan, C Morey (0-1), E Madden, K Heagney (0-1), C Collins (0-2), D Mooney (0-1), K Moynihan, D Honan, J Conlon (1-3), P Vaughan (0-1). Subs: E Hayes for Moynihan. B Flynn for Fennessey. I White (0-1), for Madden. M Barry for Honon,

Referee: P Casey (Waterford).

UNDER-21 HC:Kildare were seldom troubled as they annexed the Leinster Under-21 (Special) Hurling Championship title with a 2-12 to 0-6 victory over Meath at Leixlip last night. Although Meath provided a robust challenge they trailed for much of the game after top scorer Paul Fitzgerald opened Kildare's account in the first minute.

Full forward John Meylor tied up the game shortly afterwards but Kildare when ahead through further scores from Fitzgerald and Paul Divilly. The home side went six points ahead before Meath raised a flag for the second time through Derek Muldoon, a late replacement for Peter Durnin.

Kildare started the second half with a 0-9 to 0-3 advantage and when Coman Doyle goaled form close range soon after the interval he left Meath with too much to do.

Patrick Ward got a second goal before the third quarter ended as Kildare pulled clear thanks to a much sharper performance.

KILDARE: B Magee; E Lohan, J Doran, P Curtin; T Finnerty, M Maloney 0-1, K Bracken; P Quigley, C Mac Suibhne; O Lynch, P Divilly 0-1, A Ryan 0-1; C Ryan, C Doyle 1-1, P Fitzgerald 0-7 5f. Subs: J Houlihan 0-1 for Divilly, P Ward 1-0 for Bracken, M Cummins for C Doyle.

MEATH: C Curtis; T Murphy, C Burke, P Farrell; P Keogh, D Donoghue, E Broad; C O Mealoid, A Mulvihill 0-1; D Bailey, J Keena 0-1, K Fagan 0-1; D Muldoon 0-2 1f, J Meylor 0-1, N Smith. Subs: N Reilly for Keogh, C Keane for Muldoon.

Referee: C Groome (Offaly).