Nadal Holds Off Djokovic For 10th Rome Masters Title

The greatest rivalry in men’s tennis resumed Sunday in Italy with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic battling for the Rome Masters title. Djokovic came in as defending champion having won it a total of five times, but Nadal was a nine-time champion and the undisputed king when it comes to playing on clay.

In the end, it was Nadal maintaining his dominance over his rival on the dirt with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 win in 2 hours, 49 minutes.

“It’s a very satisfying one,” Nadal said of the win. “It’s amazing, have the trophy with me again one more time here in Rome. The 10th, I really wanted this 10th here in Rome, no? It was one of the first important titles that I won in my career.

“After achieving 10 in Roland Garros, 10 in Monte-Carlo, 10 in Barcelona, I really wanted this one, no? Yeah, super important tournament for me. I went through a lot of things during the week. Some positive, some great moments, some lucky moments, suffering moments. At the end I think I played a very solid week of tennis, no?

“Very happy. The trophy means a lot to me. At the same time, it’s the right moment to win an important title.”

After a long Saturday during which Djokovic spent nearly five hours on court, the Serb was the stronger player at the start, breaking Nadal early to lead 2-0. In the cool conditions, Nadal began to find the range off the forehand to get the break back, then overcame a scary tumble and took advantage of a drop in play from Djokovic at 5-all to get the break and eventually go up a set.

Djokovic wouldn’t go away. He again go up a break but this time held on a ran away with the second to force the third.

The world No. 1 had momentum on his side until two missed break chances at 2-all turned things toward the Spaniard. Nadal’s hold was part of a run which saw him win 12 of the 13 points to go up 5-2. And he hung for the win.

“I feel that I was a little bit better than him at the end of the first set,” Nadal said. “At the beginning of the second too. But then I didn’t convert my chances in the first two games that he served. Then I played a terrible game. Against the wind, but I played a terrible game that then was 4-1. I lost a little bit my concentration there and it was 6-1.

“In the third set is true that he had the breakpoints, but is something that can happen. I was serving against the wind, and against the wind is always a huge disadvantage, no? So even if losing that game, I accept that you can lose your serve against the wind. The big problem if you lose your serve with the wind helping, no? But against the wind, you lose that game but you know you’re going to go to the other side and you can have the break back with the wind helping.”

Nadal, who saved match points on Thursday, has now won 88 career titles, 62 on clay and has a total of 36 crowns at the Masters level which equals Djokovic’s record.

He also narrow the gap between him and Djokovic to 29-28 and increases his lead on clay to 19-7 in their head-to-head. On clay, Nadal has won 11 of the last 13 sets against Djokovic.

After, Djokovic was still pleased with his week and his effort.

“I could have easily went out from this tournament in quarters,” Djokovic said referring to his comeback win over Stefanos Tsitsipas. “I’m very pleased with my fighting spirit. The level of tennis was higher and higher, actually.

“Yesterday I played great. Today I thought I also played a high level. Unfortunately decisive moments in the first and third set, you know, just went his way. It was a bit unfortunate.

“Didn’t capitalize on that breakpoint in 2-All. Next game I played against the wind with used balls. Just tough, you know, to play him from that side. Next game, 4-2, and he broke my serve. He got new balls. So that helps his serve.

“Just was a bit unfortunate in those moments, but overall almost three hours of high-quality tennis. Of course I’m disappointed not to win it, but at the same time I’m very pleased with the level of tennis that I managed to find in the later stages of this tournament.”

He added that despite a busy Saturday, he has fine physically.

“I did not feel any fatigue. So he managed to break my serve and played better. That’s it. As I said, till the last shot it was quite close. I had my shot to win it, but wasn’t meant to be,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic went on to say he’s where he wants to be in terms of French preparation. Nadal is ready, too.

“I think I have been improving this week, but I need to keep going with that improvement, because when you improve and you’re able to do it every day for longer time, then it’s more confidence and you feel more confident and more safe, no, that you want to do it on the next tournament,” Nadal said.

NADAL-DJOKOVIC HIGHLIGHTS

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