ATP Masters Rome: Rafael Nadal with victory over Novak Djokovic for the 10th title
Rafael Nadal won the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome: The Spaniard defeated Novak Djokovic in the final 7: 5 and 1: 6, 6: 3 ( you can read the match in the re-live here! ).
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: May 16, 2021, 08:01 pm
And again it was Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic who should agree on the title among themselves in the Foro Italico. A fact that comes as no surprise, as in the past it was always the two exceptional talents who were able to dominate in the Italian capital. The impressive result: only two players apart from Nadal and Djokovic have succeeded in triumphing at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome since 2005, and one of this year's finalists has always been in the final since that year.
Novak Djokovic had the better start to the 2021 final, who already secured the early break in the second game and pulled away to 2-0. Nadal, a nine-time champion in Rome, did not let that bother her, managed the rebreak immediately and equalized with ease on his own serve.
Nadal dives to break ball
As a result, it was the king of the clay court who should find the better chances. In the seventh game of the game, for example, when Nadal played a sensational passing ball to break the ball while falling, but could not use it. The Spaniard's fall, however, went smoothly, but let Nadal boil over: As in the match against Zverev, the line became an unwanted stumbling block for the 34-year-old. The Mallorcan was "not amused".
Up to the score of 5: 5, both players were extremely even, no player was able to put decisive pressure on his opponent in his service games. But then Rafael Nadal increased the number of strokes again, played his way to breakball with his trademark forehand longline winner, which the Mallorcan finally knew how to use after Djokovic's forehand failed completely. The preliminary decision in the first sentence: With a wonderful forehand inside-out winner, the world number three made the 7: 5 perfect in the first round.
Djokovic strikes back
In the second round it was again Novak Djokovic who should get the better start. The Serb knocked in Nadal's first service game, and in the third game of the set, the world number one finally got the break. That should give the industry leader a boost, the Serb played himself into a real frenzy, dominated the center court.
That was also reflected on the scoreboard, Nadal could no longer play his usual offensive game, and Djokovic was increasingly forced on the defensive. The Serbian grabbed another break with a score of 4: 1 - and served through two moments later with 6: 1. A third set had to bring the decision in the final.
Nadal ice cold
The story from the first two rounds was repeated in the third set as well: Djokovic started strong and initially had obwerasser. This was particularly evident in the fourth game of the set, when the Serb found two break chances after sensational rallies, but did not know how to use them. Also because the 33-year-old made an extremely avoidable forehand error.
This should represent a shift in the momentum, Nadal took this momentum with him into the next game, also benefited from a few slight mistakes by the Serbian and finally made the "to zero break" with a magic pass. Djokovic should not recover from this, Nadal easily served himself to 5: 2 and minutes later fixed the 7: 5, 1: 6 and 6: 3 success with his own serve.
With a big chest to the French Open
It is the tenth title for Rafael Nadal in the Foro Italico. A tournament that represents the dress rehearsal for the French Open - the Spaniard's highlight of the season - for the clay court king. After the disappointing results in Monte Carlo and Madrid, an equally important boost in self-confidence for the bull from Manacor.