By Chris Oddo | Sunday May 19, 2019
What looked to be a rout become a lot more complicated, but nevertheless today’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia final in Rome still ended as a crowning achievement for Rafael Nadal.
More Roma: Pliskova Powers Past Konta for Biggest Clay Title
The Spaniard got the confidence-building title he craved and also notched a victory against his fiercest rival Novak Djokovic, coming through a wild battle, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 to claim his record ninth title at the Foro Italico.
“What means the most for me is this trophy,” said Nadal. “Rome is one of the most important tournaments for the year, it’s part of the history of our sport, to be able to win again here is the main thing.”
Nadal was quick to get out of the blocks on Sunday and Djokovic was still sluggish as the Spaniard reeled off the first six games and recorded the first ever love set in the 54 encounters between these two rivals.
Djokovic, who played grueling three-setters that ended around midnight on each of the two previous evenings, was unable to hang with Nadal’s blistering game and he tried to end points quickly with drop shots and showed little fortitude against Nadal’s offensive push.
With the shocked crowd beginning to urge Djokovic on the World No.1 found his footing and was able to take advantage of a few untimely Nadal miscues and come away with the middle set to force a decider.
"I was just running out of fuel a little bit today,” Djokovic later reflected. “Just kind of missed that half a step, especially on the backhand side. He used it very well. He's been playing some terrific tennis throughout the entire week. He was just too strong today."
Nadal took the onus in the third set and eventually ran away with the victory as he broke three times on four opportunities and won eight of nine second-serve return points in the third set against a weary Djokovic.
It was close early in the set but Djokovic made poor decisions and struggled to finish points at the net with volleys or in the midcourt with his smash. Nadal was quick to capitalize and rolled through the final four games to leave no doubt in the contest.
The Spaniard did not face a break point in set three and put the finishing touches on his 81st career title and 34th at the Masters 1000 level at the two hour and 25-minute mark.
Much had been made of the fact that Nadal had entered May without a single tournament title to his name for the first time since 2004. Those concerns are in the rearview now as Nadal has played his best and most consistent tennis of the season in Rome.
He dropped just 18 games in his five victories to improve to 26-28 lifetime against Djokovic and 17-7 against his rival on clay.
Most important to Nadal was the his level of play through all five matches.
“Happy for the title more than winning against Novak," Nadal said. "I am especially happy because the level was very high."
The scene will shift to Roland Garros now, and 11-time champion Nadal will head in as the favorite once again. It remains to be seen what effect the loss will have on Djokovic. He was the tour’s hottest player but simply ran out of gas on Sunday in Rome.
“I really always try to respect the win of my opponent,” Djokovic said of his short turnaround. “It is what it is. The schedule can be improved in my opinion. … I respect whatever I have in front of me.”
He added: “I haven’t played my best today. I haven’t felt my best but at the same time I managed to fight and that’s the positive I take from it.”