Updates: Djokovic Takes Second Set From Nadal In Rome Final

Novak Djokovic is not going down without a fight.

After Rafael Nadal took the first set of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia final 6-0, the World No. 1 battled back, saving all four break points he faced in the second set to take it 6-4, sending the Rome championship match to a deciding set.

Djokovic may have won nine of the pair’s previous 11 FedEx ATP Head2Head matches, but Nadal wasted no time taking the lead at the Foro Italico. The Serbian dropped balls shorter than usual early on, allowing Nadal to pounce, stepping into the court to dictate play. It appeared Nadal, who won three 6-0 sets and did not drop a set en route to the final, was the fresher man compared to Djokovic, who battled through two tough three-setters on Friday and Saturday evening against Juan Martin del Potro and Diego Schwartzman, respectively.

Time On Court Entering The Final

In recent years, Djokovic has thrived in crosscourt rallies between his backhand and Nadal's forehand, but the Spaniard has done well to avoid those battles from the back foot, only engaging in those rallies from an offensive position. Towards the end of the set, though, Djokovic was able to step in and take a couple of crosscourt backhand early for winners. Nadal broke serve three times in the first set, earning 59 per cent of his return points in the opener.

Although Djokovic did not win a game in the first set, the two sharp crosscourt backhand winners he hit near the end of the first set showed a change of intent, which carried into the second. The Serbian began to play more aggressively, and there was more intensity in his movement on the court. 

Djokovic earned his first break point of the second set at 2-1 with a sharp-angled forehand. But Nadal dismissed that opportunity by dancing around his backhand to crush an inside-in forehand winner. At 3-3, 0/30 Nadal threw up a desperate lob that Djokovic smashed right into the net to give the Spaniard three break points. But the four-time Rome champion escaped that game with strong serving.

Djokovic fended off another break chance at 4-4, the 13th he faced in the match and his fourth of the set. But that proved key, as the top seed earned his first break of the match on set point, when Nadal missed wide.

This is an Open Era-record 54th meeting between Nadal and Djokovic. It is the 26th time they have played for a title, with Djokovic winning three in a row, most recently at this year’s Australian Open, where he faced just one break point and went unbroken.

Did You Know?
It took until the 142nd set in the pair's epic rivalry for either player to claim a 6-0 set.