Djokovic stuns Nadal to win Rome Masters

Novak Djokovic won his third Italian Open title and laid down a marker for the French Open with victory over Rafael Nadal in the Rome final.

Djokovic, 26, beat the defending champion and world number one 4-6 6-3 6-3 in two hours and 19 minutes.

The Serb has now won four matches in a row against Nadal, with the Spaniard’s last victory coming in a dramatic semi-final at Roland Garros 12 months ago.

Despite his daunting record in Paris, the Spaniard might not return as favourite this time after Djokovic’s spectacular performance in Rome.

It is the first time since 2004 that Nadal, who was beaten in the quarter-finals in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, has lost more than two matches on clay in a season.

Djokovic made an edgy start to the final and slipped two breaks down at 4-1 but, once he found his range, it was the Serb who began to dictate.

Nadal, 27, recovered from 0-40 on his way to closing out the first set but the momentum was with Djokovic and, although he dropped serve when distracted by a crying baby in the crowd, he broke twice to level the match.

A scintillating passage of play saw Djokovic reel off five games in a row, his return of serve causing Nadal all sorts of problems as he broke early in the decider.

Nadal battled hard to stay in touch, punching his fist and roaring to the crowd after holding serve at one point, and his fighting spirit paid off when he got back on level terms at 3-3.

It only sparked another barrage of brilliant returning from Djokovic, 

however, and the six-time Grand Slam champion broke once more in the following game, matching Nadal with a huge fist pump of his own.

There was no stopping Djokovic this time and he dismantled the Nadal serve for the sixth time to seal his fifth victory in the last six Masters tournaments.