Nadal beats Djokovic to win Italian Open title

Speed Post News News Network

Patna : Eight time champion and World No 2 Rafael Nadal, Spain, beat World No 1 and four time champion Novak Djokovic, Serbia, in the final to win the Italian Open men’s singles title for the 9th time on May 19, 2019. Nadal beat Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 in 2 hr 25 minutes in the final at Foro Italico, Rome, Italy, to avenge his humiliating defeat in Australian Open final at the hands of the Serbian in January 2019. It was Nadal’s first title in 2019.

It was the 54 meeting between the two players with Djokovic leading 28-26 head to head. It was also Nadal’s 34th ATP Masters 1,000 title. Djokovic has won 33 ATP Masters title.

Defending Champion Nadal broke Djokovic’s service 6 times in the match – three each in first and third set. Djokovic broke Nadal’s service only once in the match – in the 10th game of the second set, which the Serbian won. Djokovic though fired 7 Aces in the match to none by Nadal.

Nadal’s winning percentage both on his first and second serve (73 % & 57 %) was much higher than that of Djokovic  (59 % & 29 %). Nadal also won 6 games in a row in the match to 2 by Djokovic. Djokovic, however, won 50 service points to 46 by Nadal. Nadal’s significant achievement was inflicting a bagel set (6-0) on Djokovic.