Djokovic Back In Rome Final, Dispatches Ruud, Will Face Tsitsipas For Title

Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas will meet Sunday in the Rome Masters final for the first time since their memorable French Open final last year when the Greek let a two set lead slip away.

Djokovic’s progress continued Saturday in the semifinals upended Casper Ruud in a rematch of a 2021 Rome semifinal. The 5-time Rome champion cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 victory, the 1,000th of his remarkable career. He’s just the fifth man to reach that exclusive club.

MEN TO WIN 1,000 OR MORE MATCHES
Jimmy Connors 1,274
Roger Federer 1,251
Ivan Lendl 1,068
Rafael Nadal 1,051
Novak Djokovic 1,000

“I’ve seen Roger and Rafa celebrate those milestones in the last couple of years and I was looking forward to get to that 1,000 myself,” Djokovic said. “I’m really, really blessed and privileged to have that many victories on the Tour. It’s been a long time, ever since I won my first match on the Tour. Hopefully I can keep going and many more victories to come.”

As for the match, Djokovic was pleased.

“I thought I played very well,” he said. “Started fantastic, 4-0. Then I did slow down a bit. I did drop my level and I wasn’t feeling that great on the court for about 15, 20 minutes. He used that, managed to get himself back in the first set. It was important to close it out in the 10th game, clinch the first set.”

Earlier, Tsitsipas avenged a Madrid loss to Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Tsitsipas was the stronger of the two as the German faded down the stretch dropping eight of the last nine points including getting broken at love to lost the match.

“He wasn’t giving me much, he made me work hard for every single point,” said Tsitsipas. “I’m extremely proud of the way things turned around, and I was able to read the gameplay a little bit better and understand what was working at that time.”

Tsitsipas joins the Big 3 as men to reach the finals at the four biggest clay events – Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros.

Djokovic leads Tsitsipas 7-2 and 4-0 on the clay.

“Another final against him at one of the biggest tournaments we have in the world,” Djokovic said. “He’s definitely in form. The last few years he’s been top two, three clay-court players. In general, top two, three in the world.

“But especially on the clay court, winning Monte Carlo, always reaching the final stages of the biggest events on clay. I can expect a big battle on the court, but I’m ready for it.”

Djokovic will seek a 6th Rome title — he’s in the final for a 4th straight year — and 38th at the Masters title, 87th overall. Tsitsipas bids for a 9th career title and 3rd at the Masters level.

The Serb hasn’t dropped a set all week.