Rafael Nadal yesterday snatched the Rome Masters crown from Novak Djokovic with a 7-5 6-3 victory. The title – a record sixth in Rome for Nadal – also returned the Spaniard to No.2 in the world rankings after Roger Federer displaced him a week ago.
It is the second win in a row for Nadal over Djokovic – the last being in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters – after seven straight losses to the Serb. The Spaniard won the tournament from 2005-2007 then in 2009 and 2010. Last year he lost in the final against Djokovic.
The match was originally scheduled for Sunday but was rained off amid a hail of plastic bottles from disgruntled fans. Having won the toss, Djokovic’s serve came under immediate fire from Nadal in a first game of supreme quality except for one shocking error from the Serb. Djokovic had to save two break points to hold.
The second game, which ultimately saw Nadal hold, exemplified the best and worst of world number one Djokovic in the match.
Two more straightforward holds followed, with the more accurate Nadal using every inch of the width of the court, before the first break. Djokovic committed an incredible error at 0-15 down, smashing into the ground on his side of the net – he would repeat the mistake in the second set – as his footwork let him down. He saved one break point before giving up his serve with a long forehand and poorly-chosen drop shot which Nadal polished off.
However he would immediately break back for 3-3, striking excellent returns before a suddenly desperate-looking Nadal sent a regulation forehand into the net.
Indeed, it was Nadal who looked shaky as the set moved with serve to 5-4 – but one crucial line call in the following game was to throw Djokovic into a funk and give fresh impetus to the Spaniard.
In a third consecutive spectacular rally, with both players throwing everything at one another, Djokovic sent a forehand on to the sideline which had Nadal worried; after the out call arrived, the umpire overruled it to see the point replayed. Djokovic was aghast as the point would have seen him claim break point – and lost the game from there.
Having smashed his racquet against a net post, he would lose the following four games. The first of them was the crucial third break, and the Serb will be incredulous that he managed to throw it away from 40-0 up.