TENNIS ATP Rome – Novak Djokovic triumphed at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome for the third time in his career after beating seven-time Rome champion Rafael Nadal in three sets with 4-6 6-3 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes. Diego Sampaolo
Interviews, results, order of play, draws of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome
The Serbian super-star, who will turn 27 on 22 May, earned his third Rome Trophy after the wins in 2008 against Stan Wawrinka and in 2011 against Rafa Nadal. It was an anticipated birthday present for the World Number 2 player who has earned 1000 points increasing his chance to return to the World Number 1 spot.
Djokovic clinched his third Master 1000 Trophy of the year after Indian Wells and Miami.
Nadal played his ninth final in the Foro Italico and his 40th final at Master 1000 level.
Djokovic and Nadal met for the 41st time in their career. Nadal led 22-18 in their previous head-to-head matches.
The two players contested their second head-to-head match in a Master 1000 final. They met last March in Miami where Djokovic won in straight sets with a double 6-3.
In the third game of the opening set Djokovic committed three unforced errors and faced a triple break point at 1-1 0-40. Nadal converted his third break point with a drop shot.
Nadal got a double break to pull away to 4-1
Djokovic made seven unforced errors with his backhand in the first five games. He broke straight back in the sixth game to close the gap to 2-4 and went up 0-40 on Nadal’s serve but the Mallorcan star saved the break point.
Nadal earned a set point at 5-4 with a service winner and wrapped up the first set after 46 minutes as Djokovic sent a return wide. Nadal won 75 percent of second serve points.
Djokovic fought back in the second set turning around the match. He got a break in the second game to go up 2-0 with a cross-court forehand passing shot. and backed it up in the next game to pull away to 3-0.
Nadal earned his first break point of the second set after Djokovic made forehand errors when he was serving at 3-1. The Spaniard converted on the break point to close the gap to 2-3.
Djokovic broke straight back for 4-2 and held serve in the next game to love to extend his lead to 5-2. Djokovic hit an ace to close out the second set with 6-3 to force the match to the decider
In the second set Djokovic won 69 percent of his second serve points and hit 18 winners.
Djokovic picked up where he left off at the end of the second set by breaking at the start of the decider. Djokovic earned a break point which could have given him a double break but Nadal managed to save it and held serve for 1-2 keeping his hopes alive.
Djokovic dictated the match from the baseline. Djokovic got another break in the seventh game to take a 4-3 edge. He won nine points to take a 5-3 30-0 lead with a series of down-the.line winner and converted on his second match point for 6-3 when Nadal hit his forehand long.
Djokovic hit 46 winners and six aces
Djokovic won his fourth consecutive match against Nadal
The match was attended by tennis legends Boris Becker (coach of Djokovic), John Newcombe, Manolo Santana, Nicola Pietrangeli and Lea Pericoli.
“I want to dedicate this title to Serbia. I have been following what’s going on with the catastrophic flood during the last 2 or 3 days. It’s something that has taken away a lot of hope and homes and not being present makes me sad because I cannot physically contribute. If I was there I would help definitely.
It’s been a great week considering where I have been few weeks ago with the wrist injury. Luckily I played with no pain and increased the level of tennis as the week went on. I have had some tough matches. Four of five matches were three-setters and I had to come back from a set down yesterday against Raonic and today against Nadal. This gives me a lot of confidence. Winning against Rafa in the final of a big tournament on clay, his preferred surface, is a confidence booster. The crowd support was amazing. It’s something that I don’t take for granted. I try to show love as much as I can. It helps that I speak Italian. I feel at home here and close to these people. I am glad that I could this title in front of them”, said Djokovic
Nadal could not win two back-to-back Master 1000 Tournaments but he finished the tournament with a renewed confidence ahead of the Roland Garros.
“I felt that Novak was pushing me and has a great talent to play inside the lines. I think that this week is important for me. I have won 600 points. I was able to play in another final here. I was able to compete well against one of the best players at the moment. I arrive to the Roland Garros more encouraged now”, said Nadal
