Last Sunday, Rafael Nadal won his record fourth Rome Masters title beating defending champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (2), 6-2. This is the third clay-court title in three weeks, following victories at the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open for this top-ranking Spaniard.
Nadal says “for sure it’s one of the biggest wins of my career. It’s always incredible to win in Rome.”
His winnings on clay extended to 30 matches and it went from way back to an opening round loss to Juan Carlos Ferrero in Rome last year.
Djokovic, who railed to beat Roger Federer in the semifinals claims that he had his chances, and that he overcomes the pressures better than me, and that is why he is the best in the world. But he doesn’t seem to be unsatisfied, since he feels that he has done enough and that he’s pretty happy with the week.
An Open Era tie was broken by Nadal with Thomas Muster as he won the Rome titles in 1990, 1995, and 1996. Three titles were also won before the Open Era by Jaroslav Drobny and Martin Mulligan.
For Nadal, the four-time defending champion, Rome is just a key warm up for the French Open, which would begin in three weeks.
Though Nadal was able to break serve in the opening game of the match, Djokovic had a chance during the first set. This happened before he lost control for good in the tiebreaker; which sent a weak backhand drop shot attempt into the net on Nadal’s third set point.
Luckily this year, Nadal improved well in his Rome record which was now a 22-1 and is a tour-best 38-3. Nadal won five of the eight tournaments which he has entered.