- Nadal beat Djokovic 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
- Spaniard happy with form before French Open defence
Rafael Nadal warmed up for the French Open with a battling 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 win over world No 1 Novak Djokovic as the Spaniard claimed a record-extending 10th Italian Open title in Rome on Sunday in the latest chapter of their rivalry.
After a mid-match wobble, Nadal turned up the heat in the decisive moments of his 57th meeting with top seed Djokovic – the pair’s ninth in Rome – to secure the victory over the defending champion in two hours and 49 minutes.
Related: Andy Murray pulls out of French Open to focus on Wimbledon