Nadal beats Djokovic to enter final of Italian Open Masters

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 2 in ATP rankings and seven time champion Rafael Nadal, 31, Spain, entered the final of Italian Open Masters 1000 defeating World N0 18 and four time champion Novak Djokovic, 30, Serbia, at the centre court of Foro Italico, Rome, in straight sets on May 19, 2018, night, in the semi-finals.

Winner of 16 Grand Slam singles titles and a former World No 1, Nadal beat Djokovic, also a former World No 1,  7-6, 6-3, in a fierely contested match. Although Nadal beat Djokovic in straight sets, he had to fight for every point in the match. In the first set, Nadal was leading 5-2 at one stage but Djokovic rallied to make it 5-5 all and took the set to the tie breaker which the Spainiard won 7-4. It was easy for Nadal in the second set though.

It was the 51st match beteen the two players. Despite his defeat in the semi-finals, Djokovic, winner of 12 Grand Slam singles titles, still leads Nadal 26-25 head to head. Nadal will play the winner of the second semi-finals between World No 3 Alexander Zverev, 21, Germany, and World No 5 Marin Cilic, 29, Croatia, starting at 11.30 pm on May 19, 2018.