Nadal wins 8th Italian Open title

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Seven time champion and World No 2 in ATP rankings Rafael Nadal, 31, Spain, defeated defending champion Alexander Zverev,21, Germany, in three sets 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, in the final of Italian Open Masters 1000 on the centre court at Foro Italico, Rome, on May 20, 2018, night, to lift the Italin Open singles title for the 8th time. With this win, Nadal will reclaim his World No 1 position in the ATP rankings to be issued on May 21, 2018. Nadal now holds a 5-0 head to head record against Zverev.

But, Nadal was given a run for his money in the final by Zverev. Nadal won the first set 6-1. But, Zverev was all over Nadal in the second set winning it 6-1. The third set saw Zverev breaking Nadal’s serve again.  But, thereafter Nadal dominated the third set which saw several long rallies between the two players. Zverev had won Madrid Open Masters 1000 recently where Nadal had lost in the quarterfinals to Dominic Thiem, 24, Austria, and had lost his World No 1 position.