Irresistible Rafael Nadal powers past Novak Djokovic to claim first title of the season
Rafael Nadal was back to his brilliant best as he brushed aside Novak Djokovic to claim the Italian Open title in Rome.
Nadal came into the tournament still searching for his first title of the season after recently being denied at the semi-final stage at both Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, and Madrid.
However, he powered his way past world number one Djokovic, even bageling him in the first set, to finally get his hands on some silverware again.
Djokovic, typically, dug in during the second set, repeatedly denying Nadal a break before gaining a critical one himself in the final game of the set.
That was to be as good as it got for Djokovic, though, with Nadal getting a degree of payback for his Australian Open final humiliation with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 success.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
More from Tennis365:
-
-
The 2019 French Open: When is it, who are the defending champions, the draw, TV channel, prize money
-
FEATURE: Meet Roy Erskine, Andy Murray’s grandfather and former professional footballer
-
T365 Recall: When Andy Murray cemented his legacy during brilliant 2016 season
-
EXCLUSIVE: Annabel Croft on the ‘identity crisis’ facing the women’s game
-
-
Latest
-
NewsSimona Halep reaches Italian Open semis after Yulia Putintseva retires injured
Halep has twice been beaten in the final at the Foro Italico.
-
NewsNovak Djokovic survives scare in Rome to see off qualifier Dominik Koepfer
Djokovic will play first-time semi-finalist Casper Ruud next.
-
NewsVictoria Azarenka reaches Italian Open quarters after Daria Kasatkina injury
Kasatkina rolled her ankle during the first set of the third-round match.
-
NewsNovak Djokovic survives tough first set on way to beating Filip Krajinovic
Djokovic and Krajinovic played an 87-minute opening set.
-
NewsJohanna Konta ends short-term coaching arrangement with Thomas Hogstedt
Konta and Hogstedt agreed the partnership was not a good fit.
-
NewsNaomi Osaka withdraws from French Open due to lingering injury
The world number three said her “hamstring is still sore so I won’t have enough time to prepare for the clay”.
-
NewsCoronavirus surge forces further restrictions on Roland Garros spectator numbers for French Open
Only 5,000 fans a day permitted.
-
NewsJohanna Konta bagels Begu to march impressively into third round at Italian Open
The British number into round three.
-
-
