ATP: Rain break helps Nadal: “Rafa” wrestles Sascha Zverev in Rome

Rafael Nadal has won the Masters tournament in Rome for the eighth time. He defeated Alexander Zverevnach 2 hours and 9 minutes playing time with 6:1, 1:6, 6:4.

The prospects for Alexander Zverev were not exhilarating in the run-up to the final, despite his winning streak of 14 matches in a row. The 21-year-old from Hamburg had played four duels against Nadal so far, losing four times. And always smooth on clay, most recently at the Davis Cup against Spain a few weeks ago with a 1:6, 4:6, 4:6, which was ultimately clearer than the result; a year ago in Monte Carlo it set a 1:6, 1:6, and the late night semi-final victory over David Goffin yesterday Saturday, while Nadal already brought his victory over Novak Djokovic in the afternoon.

Zverev nevertheless found the better start to the match by nailing Nadal to his backhand in long cross duels and directly breaking – a possible recipe to have a chance. The Spaniard, however, took the equaliser directly – to zero. Nadal then took a 4-1 lead with strong tennis and a few Zverev mistakes; Zverev then failed to use a 40-0, Nadal scored well on the net, passed safely and switched from baseline to merciless mode.

While Zverev did not have to give up his service a single time in Madrid, he lost all three service games against Nadal in round one, scoring only three of eleven points on the first serve – and only two of seven on the second.

At the beginning of the second set, the third in the world rankings made his first serve, fought his way through another break and held his way to a 3-0. zverev now stood in the field, set the pace and left Nadal partly helpless, another break followed, with his first ace the German then took the 5-0. although Nadal could fend off the maximum penalty, zverev nailed a backhand longline to 6:1 in the corner shortly afterwards.

Zverev also broke directly in the decisive set, at 3:1 there was a break due to increasing rain. Both players left the field only briefly, after just 15 minutes Nadal served and shortened before the rain came again.

For 45 minutes Zverev and Nadal had to wait, and the Spaniard came out of the break better. Zverev had the 4-2 cue ball, but Nadal pressed – then Zverev scored twice for the 3-3, Nadal was the better player, returned for a long time and gradually took over the rallies. The result: another break for the 5:3, after which he surely served himself for the eighth title in Rome.

Nadal will once again take over the top of the world rankings – and replace Roger Federer in second place. Zverev remains third.