ATP Masters Rome: Novak Djokovic fixes dream final against Rafael Nadal after victory over Sonego
Novak Djokovic is in the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome after a three-set win over Lorenzo Sonego. There it goes on Sunday against his long-term competitor Rafael Nadal .
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: May 15, 2021, 09:23 pm
Novak Djokovic had already stood with his back to the wall several times on Saturday. In the semifinals earlier on Saturday, in which Stefanos Tsitsipas looked like the sure winner at times. Especially in the third set - minutes earlier, Djokovic had secured the second round despite the break deficit - when the Greek missed chances for a double break - and a little later had to accept the bitter defeat against the industry leader.
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Djokovic was far from similar situations in his semi-final duel with Lorenzo Sonego - the surprise man who had taken both Dominic Thiem and Andrey Rublev out of the tournament in tough fights. In the first set, the Serb made the early break, which Djokovic transported to the set win with some problems.
Djokovic misses early decision
And also in the second round it looked like a small preliminary decision in favor of the reigning Australian Open champion: Djokovic had breakball in the third game, but could not use it - accompanied by the frenetic cheers of the Italian home crowd - Sonego stayed in the match . Djokovic, however, did not give up, had break chances in the following service games of the Italian - against whom he had lost the last duel in Vienna last year - but Sonego always showed his best tennis in these moments.
So also with the score of 4: 4: Djokovic again gained opportunities to break, again Sonego was strong as a bear in these moments and fought off even in the greatest distress. Moments later, the self-sacrificing fight of the surprise man would almost have been rewarded with winning the set, but Djokovic was able to fend off the two set balls of the local hero.
Djokovic breaks at the right time
A shift in the moment that nobody knows how to use as well as the current number one in the men's tennis world. Sonego made a few minor mistakes at the start of the following service game - quickly found themselves confronted with a 15:40. The Italian was able to fend off the first breakball, but Djokovic showed emotion on the second - and made the all-important break. Even this setback should not harm Sonego's resistance, the Italian continued fighting and managed the rebreak in the next service game at the last moment. The second sentence went into a quick decision.
In this it was again Djokovic who should gain an advantage. The world number one came to a mini-break through no fault of his own and quickly moved away to 3-0. And once again it was Lorenzo Sonego who did not let this deficit bother him, showed strong tennis and suddenly found two set balls even at 6: 4. And finally sent the game into a decisive set with a service winner.
Now Nadal is waiting
In this it was again Djokovic who was able to set the first scent mark of the set. The Serb grabbed the break to 3: 1, pulled away and finally made the 6: 3, 6: 7 (5), 6: 2 success with another break.
So now the dream final between number one and number two of the tournament is coming in Rome, the new edition of the French Open final from the previous year. The final hurdle for Novak Djokovic, because it couldn't be higher - in the final, the world number one will face Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard also had hardly any problems in his semifinals with the service giant Reilly Opelka.