David Ferrer has taken down the world’s No. 1 tennis player…

The 31-year-old Spanish tennis star beat his compatriot Rafael Nadal in straight sets during the second day of the Mubadala World Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Ferrer beat Nadal 6-4, 6-4 in the late afternoon match. It was the world number one’s first match since losing in straight sets to Novak Djokovic in the final of the World Tour Finals in London on November 11.

Playing ahead of the official ATP season-opener in nearby Doha next week, Ferrer looked like the sharper player from the start, breaking in the ninth game to take the first set.

It was more of the same in the second set as Nadal struggled to find his range against an opponent who already had a match under his belt, having defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

“I think, for a first match to play against a guy who has practiced for a month and who played a match yesterday, on a very fast court, I was happy with how I played,” Nadal told The National newspaper. “I had a few opportunities, break points, but he played well and he converted the chances better than me. I had a few mistakes but in my opinion I was better than I thought I would be right now.”

Ferrer will next face Djokovic in the final on Saturday. The winner will receive $250,000 prize money.