RAFAEL Nadal beat world number one Novak Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 to clinch the Rome title in a blistering return to his Grand Slam winning form ahead of the French Open.
The Spaniard has not claimed a title since last year but blitzed Djokovic in the first set – the first time there has ever been a 6-0 scoreline between the pair after 141 previous attempts.
Remarkably, Djokovic hit back in the second set as his opponent’s level dropped, to force a decider on Nadal’s favourite surface.
However, Nadal regrouped and broke serve in the first game of the third set and once again in the fifth, to seal the win and take the title in emphatic fashion.
Djokovic leads Nadal 28-26 in their career head-to-heads. It was Nadal’s first win over the Serbian player since the semi-finals of this event a year ago. – ATP
