ATP Masters Rome: Novak Djokovic - "Final without Rafael Nadal strange"
Novak Djokovic apparently has to nibble at the surprising end of defending champion Rafael Nadal at the ATP Masters in Rome.
by SID / red
last edit: Sep 21, 2020, 11:07 am
"In most of the finals that I reached on clay, I had to face Rafa," said the world number one after his victory in the semi-finals against Norwegian Casper Ruud on Sunday. "It's strange not to play against him this time." Especially since Djokovic and Nadal could then have worked out in a direct duel who is now the sole leader in the Masters 1000 winners list. Both currently hold 35 triumphs.
Nadal had lost for the first time on Saturday in the quarter-finals in the tenth duel with the little Argentine Diego Schwartzman, his error rate was unusually high. Djokovic, on the other hand, lived up to his role as a favorite and met Schwartzman in the final on Monday. The Argentine was able to prevail in a terrific semi-final on Sunday against Denis Shapovalov - and has lost all four games against Novak Djokovic so far.
Since 2005, at least one of the two superstars has been in the final of the Italian Open in the Foro Italico in Rome, Nadal triumphs nine times and is the record winner, Djokovic four times. Both faced each other five times, Nadal won three times, most recently last year.