Nadal claims 9th Italian title
Credit to Author: Tempo Online| Date: Mon, 20 May 2019 12:05:37 +0000
ROME (AFP) – Rafael Nadal defeated his greatest rival Novak Djokovic, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1, to win a ninth Italian Open title and a record 34rd Masters on Sunday, leaving his vanquished foe to label the Spaniard as “the No. 1 favorite for Roland Garros”.
World No. 1` Djokovic, winner at the Madrid Open last week, produced an error-strewn performance in his 54th meeting with second-ranked Nadal, who claimed the 81st title of his career.
Rafael Nadal (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)
“Finally I have a title,” said Nadal after securing his first title of 2019. “I’m happy to reach that level in the last tournament before a Grand Slam.”
Djokovic had beaten Nadal in the final of the Australian Open this year for his third straight Grand Slam win after Wimbledon and the US Open.
Nadal overtakes Djokovic at the top of the list for Masters wins – the pair were level at 33 each before Sunday’s final – in a timely boost ahead of his assault on a 12th French Open crown in a week’s time.
“I’m really glad that I managed to get into the third set, considering the first set where I was blown away from the court,” said Djokovic.
“The second set was obviously better. Had my chances in first couple games, I thought, in the third set. Then he ran away from me.”
After three semifinal defeats in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid, Nadal has returned to his best form ahead of Roland Garros.
The Spaniard dominated early with Djokovic losing a set 6-0 for the first time to a player he describes as his ‘’greatest rival’’.
But Nadal missed four break chances in the second set, dropping his first set this week after losing serve at 4-5, to throw the Serb a lifeline.