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Monday 21 May 2018

With Rome title, Nadal back on track entering French Open

By ANDREW DAMPF Nadal and Zverev had
Associated Press each won two titles on clay
ROME (AP) — Rafael Nad- this season entering the fi-
al is right back where he nal, with Nadal lifting tro-
wants to be heading into phies in Monte Carlo and
the French Open. Barcelona and Zverev tak-
Alex Zverev is in a good ing Munich and Madrid.
place entering Roland Gar- Midway through the fi-
ros, too. nal set, Nadal showed off
Nadal came out on top in his shot-making skills with
a matchup of this year’s an over-the-shoulder put
top two clay-court players away with his back to the
Sunday, beating defend- net, earning long applause
ing champion Zverev 6-1, from the crowd.
1-6, 6-3 Sunday to win a Nadal, who hadn’t won
record-extending eighth the Italian Open since
Italian Open title. 2013, picked up a winner’s
Coming a week after a loss check of 935,000 euros
in the Madrid Open quar- (nearly $1 million).
terfinals to Dominic Thiem, “Congratulations Rafa,”
Nadal has his confidence Zverev said. “You’re the
back entering the year’s greatest clay-court player
second Grand Slam in Par- of all time.”
is, which starts next Sunday. Halep called a trainer onto
“It’s been an amazing the court for an apparent
week,” Nadal said. “It was Spain’s Rafael Nadal bites the trophy after beating Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final match back problem while trailing
tough losing in Madrid so of the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Sunday, May 20, 2018. Nadal won 6-1, 1-6, 6-3. 2-3 in the second set then
to come back and win the Associated Press exited the court for treat-
trophy here is great.” and played much more ag- up a break in the third be- 10 French Opens. ment.
Nadal recovered from an gressive than I did,” Zverev fore the rain came. “Of course Rafa will be the “I was a little bit too stiff with
early break in the third set said. “It just changed mo- “I was not far away from favorite there,” said Zverev, my body and I couldn’t
after a 50-minute rain de- mentum ... If you don’t beating Rafa on a clay who has never been past stay in the rallies,” Halep
lay, winning four straight have the momentum on court in a Masters final, so the fourth round in a ma- said.
games to close it out once your side, you’re not going I guess I can take that to jor. “I’ll be in the other half Last year, Halep rolled her
the players returned to the to beat Rafa.” Paris,” Zverev said. of the draw and that’s a ankle in the final and lost a
court. Still, Zverev was pleased Nadal, who improved to good thing.” set lead to Svitolina.
“He came out way faster that he dominated Nadal 5-0 in his career against Nadal will reclaim the No. This time, Svitolina didn’t
in the second set and was Zverev, has won a record 1 ranking on Monday from face a single break point in
Roger Federer, who is sit- a match that lasted just 67
ting out the clay season to minutes.
prepare for Wimbledon. Halep said her physical
“My first victory here in 2005 problems were the result of
is one of my greatest mem- a long three-set win over
ories,” Nadal said during Maria Sharapova in the
the trophy presentation. semifinals a day earlier.
“To have this cup with me Halep had already se-
so many years later is really cured the No. 1 ranking for
specialissimo.” another week by reaching
Earlier, Elina Svitolina de- the semifinals.
fended the women’s title, Svitolina, who has never
facing little resistance from made it beyond the quar-
top-ranked Simona Halep terfinals at a major, was
in a 6-0, 6-4 win. hesitant to predict any-
“I dominated all the thing for Paris.
match,” Svitolina said. “In a Grand Slam it’s very
Just like in last year’s final, tricky,” she said. “But I’m
Halep appeared bothered definitely going to Roland
by an injury. Garros on a high note.”q