TENNIS – Rafael Nadal won his 10th Italian Open with a 7-5 1-6 6-3 victory over world number one Novak Djokovic in Rome.
It was an exciting Italian Open final with two of the top players battling it out. The first set saw both players drop serve early on. Nadal was not happy when he slipped on the line in the seventh game but regained his composure.
Nadal finally secured the key break at 5-5, taking the first set 7-5.
The second set saw Djokovic dominate. Nadal managed only the single game, taking the match into the decider.
Djokovic did not continue the momentum, missing his chance in the fifth game of the decider. Nadal saved two break points. Then, after going 40-0 up in the next game, he hit a lovely backhand down the line to grab the crucial break.
Holding his serve for the rest of the match, he served out at 6-3 clinching the title for the 10th time.
Nadal on the future
“I had a very positive week and I’m very happy,” said 34-year-old Nadal. He will defend his French Open title at Roland Garros from 30th May.
During a recent interview with ‘Metro’, the man from Manacor reiterated his love for the game. “For the moment, I’m happy what I’m doing. I’m enjoying it and I hope to have the chance to keep around the tournaments for the next couple of years.”
He is, naturally, aware he cannot carry on playing in the top flight forever. “Of course, I will not be playing until the age of 45, no? I am always trying to do things as best as possible to play as long as possible. As everybody knows, of course it’s going to arrive one day that you cannot keep going.”
