Both men took the circuitous route to get there, but Sunday’s final of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia will feature the top two seeds: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
It will be the 57th installment of one of the great rivalries in tennis history, with Djokovic currently leading the head-to-head series 29-27. Such a close margin hardly means anything, but there is a statistic that is especially telling as the Rome title match looms. Nadal is 4-0 in their last four clay-court encounters, while Djokovic 10-0 in their last 10 meetings on all other surfaces.
For Nadal, that isn’t exactly unique to his matchup with Djokovic. After all, the King of Clay generally dominates all opponents on his favorite surface while sometimes struggling–relatively speaking, at least–elsewhere. Although he has not been his dominant self on clay this spring, Nadal managed to triumph in Barcelona and he is picking up even more momentum in Rome as he prepares for an upcoming bid for a 14th French Open title. So far this week the world No. 3 has knocked off Jannik Sinner, Denis Shapovalov, Alexander Zverev, and Reilly Opelka. Nadal needed to save two match points against Shapovalov, but with new life he raised his level to erase both Zverev and Opelka in straight sets.
“I [have done] a lot of things well [and played with a] good spirit during all the week,” the 34-year-old assessed. “[There are] a lot of positive things I [have done] on court this week and it is important for my confidence to be back in such an important final like this one.”
Djokovic has gone in the other direction in Rome. The top-seeded Serb opened with straight-set wins over Taylor Fritz and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, but Saturday was a grueling day. Djokovic outlasted Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in a rain-delayed quarterfinal and then withstood a spirited charge by Lorenzo Sonego to prevail 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2 in the semis.
The world No. 1 spent more than five hours on the court in one day alone and now has to face Nadal without any rest. Nadal, on the other hand, finished off Zverev before the rain came on Friday and he required only one hour and 32 minutes in the semis against Opelka.
“I don’t have much time [to recover]; I played a lot of tennis,” Djokovic admitted. “Hopefully I’ll have fresh legs, because that’s what I definitely will need. It’s necessary in order to have a chance against Rafa. He (has) also had some tough matches…. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be fresh and I’ll give it all.”
Even though Djokovic is one of the fittest and all-around toughest players in tennis history, both the physical and mental toll of Saturday’s effort cannot be overstated. Plus, on clay Nadal would be a considerable favorite even if you don’t take what happened in the quarterfinals and semis into account.
This Masters 1000 tournament means more to Nadal, too, so you have to like his chances to get the job done.
Pick: Nadal in 2
who ya got?
Nadal might leave a set to Djokovic if the Serb fights really hard for it, but unless Rafa has a really bad day he can’t lose this. Most likely Nadal in two, he bags the first set easily and weathers Novak’s resurgence in a tight second.
even though this isn’t a slam, I’m sure Nole would like to beat Rafa on clay especially in a final if he has a chance.
over 21.5 games.
Keep your mind sharp and focused, stay confident, be strong and show off your warrior spirit, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E1gjRMNWYAEP8Ol?format=jpg
Iga swiatel is streamrolling pliskova in the final.. match almost done.. barely 40 mins played… swiatek has lost 3 points on serve so far and that was in one game😨😨
Neither of them at their best, still good enough to take the win against Tsitsipas.
I expect a close match this time. Probably Djokovic cares a lot about building the confidence on clay with Nadal. So, even a loss could help him if it’s a close one.
Man.. this rafole match up sucks up my emotional energy completely.. can barely do anything the days before the match.. felt something similar before the french open final last year
The man has inflicted so many scars over the years on rafa fans…
A good omen is swiatek won a day before then too
Swaitek is a big fan of Rafa!! She won in convincing fashion today! Hope it’s a good omen too 😜
It will be interesting to see how Nadal’s serve holds up against Djoker’s return. Djoker wouldn’t want to engage in long rallies for sure and play aggressively to shorten points. Nadal in 2 sets but it can go to distance if serving woes continue. Djoker win is not impossible to fathom but this needle is tending towards Nadal..
I have Djokovic winning in a tight 3 sets so if he loses fatigue was likely the factor.
If Rafa losses this match I would say fatigue is likely the factor, after all he’s spent more time on court than Novak!! 🙄
I dont think anyone would agree that Nadal is more fatigued than Djokovic.
Of course not, but stop making excuses already! You c Novak looks tired to you? He’s the one winning the longer rallies!! He looks quite fresh to me but he would want to win the first set!
No one is making excuses. My data is very accurate so if he loses there usually has to be something to swing the result.
Im indifferent between these 2 winning. Just stating fact.
Bullshit! Not facts!
It does not matter if ure Indifferent……that’s fine……just don’t make the excuses for Novak if ure not willing to make the same for Rafa…..then u will be biased 😁
Are you dumb? Im stating what my data says. I don’t have an opinion. When the result is different to the data there’s usually an non-performance reason.
Last time im repeating myself.
This is a person whose bias is so obvious that it is absurd!
So whenever Nole loses its bcoz he’s tired or anything other than he was truly beaten?! Sigh!
Rafa tends to overhit his shots these days, his shots lack precision. I guess he’s moving slower these days hence the timing of his shots is off.
When Rafa plays against Djoko, he’s usually the one losing in court positioning, Djoko tends to be the one who steps inside the court more often, pushing Rafa further back in the process.
Fatigue.
Djoko starting to feel his body parts which means the beast mode is around the corner. Stay strong rafa
With the French Open coming up, Rafa will want to keep a few cards close to his chest.
Hmm.. djoko looks like he will take the second
Rafa needs to reset in the third set
Djoko looking relaxed out there..
I think he is relaxed. Gosh, is he out of breath after exertions.
Rafa is pumped up! He is going to win this!
Today rafa seems destined to lose.. fluffing shots he makes in his sleep… no doubt djoko has a lot to do with it
Djoko looks the better player between the two, despite Rafa having so many FH winners.
I have to say that Djoko these days has better court craft than Rafa even on clay. He can come out with all sorts of varieties to win points, usually being the one in control of the points. It’s no wonder he’s the number one player!
Id agree , Rafa depends more on physicality . Its pretty close rivalry, but theres always the feeling that Nole can beat Rafa on any surface more than the other way around. Some of his shots today were pure genius.
Rafa won mainly because he hit his forehand really well on both sides. Its one of the best forehands of all time
Humbert articulating what the world and his wife know that Rafa is the King of Clay.
“Even More Difficult…”: Ugo Humbert on Beating Rafael Nadal on Clay
Published 04/28/2021, 9:14 AM EDT
Rising French tennis star Ugo Humbert has said that it’s hard to play piano but even harder to beat Rafael Nadal on clay.
To a question on whether playing the piano is relatively easier than beating the ‘King of Clay’ of his favorite surface, the 22-year-old said playing the musical instrument is hard but it is nothing compared to battling the Spaniard on soil.
Humbert said being a pianist is a lot tougher than playing tennis but when it comes to leveling with Nadal on dirt, nothing else compares.
“Playing the piano is more difficult than playing tennis! But it is even more difficult to beat Nadal on the ground!” Humbert said.
https://www.essentiallysports.com/stefanos-tistsipas-atp-tennis-news-even-more-difficult-ugo-humbert-on-beating-rafael-nadal-on-clay/