Rafael Nadal was fighting for the world no. 1 ranking as he stepped out onto the court at Foro Italico in Rome. Standing in his was was the Madrid Masters 1000 champion Alexander Zverev and defending champion in Rome.
Zverev broke Nadal in the opening game of the final, only to see the Spaniard win the next six games to take the first set 6-1.
The second set again saw Zverev take the opening game. This time the German was able to transform the match with a 6-1 set win.
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As the match moved into the third set the skies overhead threatened with rain and it did indeed rain. At first, the players continued out on court with the rain, before a short delay took place. As the time away from the court was less than five minutes play continued without a warmup.
In the third set, Zverev again got an early break and was looking on track to win back-to-back Masters 1000 titles on clay, and also defend his Rome title, but then the rain came again, this time heavy enough to force the players from the court, and for the covers to be dragged out to cover the clay court.
When play resumed Zverev held a break of serve and just needed to hold serve several more times to claim the title. Nadal, on the other hand, was keen to show he is still the King of Clay and wanted the no. 1 ranking to again be his. Nadal lifted his intensity and got back the break.
Nadal settled into the set by winning his next service game to lead 4-3, then as Zverev hit a lob shot long on break point against him, Nadal found himself at 5-3 and serving for the match after having seen Zverev ahead 3-1 early in the deciding set.
After winning five straight games after the rain delay it was Nadal who claimed his 8th title in Rome winning the match 6-1, 1-6, 6-3. With the win, Nadal also returns to the no. 1 spot for the sixth time in his career.
This is the first title in Rome since 2013 and his 78th career title which places him fourth on the all-time list.
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