ROME: Novak Djokovic fought back to stun defending champion and seven-time winner Rafael Nadal to claim the Rome Masters 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 yesterday.
Serbia’s world number two Djokovic claimed his third title on the red clay of Rome, having won in 2008 and 2011, the latter with victory over his Spanish rival.
Yesterday’s’ win was also Djokovic’s 19th career Masters title and his 19th win against Nadal in 41 meetings.
Nadal had been looking to stretch his record of seven titles in the Italian capital.
But despite a dominant first-set display the world number one allowed unforced errors to creep into his game as Djokovic launched a valiant fightback to put himself in pole position to win a first title at the forthcoming French Open.
Nadal admitted three tough matches this week had left his fuel tank empty for the final, but the Spaniard admitted Djokovic had simply been unbeatable on the day. “He’s one of the best in the world, he’s playing great,” said the Spaniard, who has now lost three matches in the same claycourt season for the first time since 2004.
Although Nadal defiantly broke back to 3-2, Djokovic went on to level the contest, taking the second set 6-3.
Djokovic had hit eight forehand and four backhand winners to Nadal’s one in the second set, and the Serb carried the momentum into the deciding set, breaking Nadal early for a 2-0 lead.
Nadal pumped his fists when he saved serve in a tightly-contested fifth game and was given more hope when he broke to 3-3 in the next.
But he crucially hit a forehand return long in the next game to hand Djokovic the break and a 4-3 lead. Djokovic held on to his service game and with Nadal struggling broke the Spaniard again to seal a memorable win.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams won her third Italian Open title, crushing local favourite Sara Errani 6-3 6-0 in women’s final.
The world number one looked on top form against the 10th- seeded Errani, who was cheered on by a passionate home crowd but suffered a thigh injury towards the end of the first set and never recovered.
All the action was in the first set, which lasted longer than the 46-minute hammering Williams dished out to the Italian in the semi-finals of the French Open last year, when Errani won only one game.
The 27-year-old Errani, who has lost to Serena Williams, in all seven of their meetings, had to leave the court after losing her serve in the eighth game of the first set to get attention for her injury.
She was clearly less mobile after that, and the American rattled off seven easy games in a row to finish the match in one hour and 11 minutes, leaving Errani tearful in defeat. “I’m sorry for Sara because she didn’t deserve it to end like this, but I’m very happy for the win,” said Williams after the win. AFP
