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Nadal will return to No. 1 in the ATP Rankings on Monday
There was little doubt that Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev were the most in-form players on the ATP World Tour, so it was only fitting that they battled it out for the final clay-court ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title of the season at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

A lot was on the line for Nadal — the Spaniard needed to lift his eighth trophy at the Foro Italico to regain the top spot in the ATP Rankings after losing it this week to Roger Federer due to his quarter-final loss at the Mutua Madrid Open (l. to Thiem) last week.

And despite trailing by a break in the third set, Nadal came back to defeat Zverev 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in the Italian capital. After falling behind the baseline in rallies, the Spaniard used a second rain delay in the decider while trailing 3-2 to regroup, coming out firing to claim his 32nd Masters 1000 title.

Zverev, on the other hand, was in his fifth final at the elite level in the past 52 weeks after reaching his maiden championship match in Rome last year. He saw his 13-match winning streak come to an end, and now trails Nadal 0-5 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.

This is how the final unfolded...



FIRST SET - Nadal 6-1
For the second consecutive day, Nadal faced multiple break points in the first game of the match. But whereas he escaped a 15/40 deficit against Novak Djokovic, he couldn’t do the same from 0/40 against Zverev, changing a backhand-to-forehand crosscourt pattern to his own demise, eventually missing a backhand long.

But the top seed immediately responded with a break of his own and did not look back, breaking Zverev twice more to storm through the opener in 33 minutes. While the Spaniard is camping near the back wall to return the second seed's serve, the German is not taking advantage of that court positioning. Unbelievably, Zverev, on a 13-match winning streak, has won just five points on serve thus far (5/18).

Even when Zverev is able to attack during points, Nadal is not on his heels, but waiting for moments to change direction and step in himself. And when the defending champion has approached the net, he has gotten passed, while the Spaniard has shown beautiful finishing touch at the net. Nadal has even used a short, baiting slice so he could shuffle closer to the baseline and take the offensive on his next shot. At one point, the top seed won 16 of 19 points.


SECOND SET - Zverev 6-1
After Nadal rushed through the final six games of the opening set, it appeared he was well on his way to extending his FedEx ATP Head2Head series lead against Zverev to 5-0. But the German held to open the set, stopping the momentum, and from there he turned the tide.

Zverev broke for the second time in the match and instead of giving it right back, he held to love, with Nadal beginning to make more mistakes. And that was the only opening the German needed to play more aggressively, dictating far more than in the first set. And whereas the Spaniard seemed comfortable when playing defence in the first set, simply biding his time to pounce, the opposite was true in the second set. The 21-year-old took his shots a bit earlier to take time away from Nadal, not giving him time to react. And in neutral rallies, he was the one ramping up the pace and being the aggressor, keeping the Spaniard from taking control.

Zverev fell behind 0/30 as he served for the set, but did not let his focus slip, winning the next four points and closing out the set with a clean backhand winner down the line. Amazingly, he won 73 per cent of his service points in the second set after claiming just 28 per cent in the opener.

Nadal had won 17 consecutive sets in clay-court finals and it is his first 6-1 set lost on the surface since his loss in the Roland Garros quarter-finals against Novak Djokovic in 2015. The 31-year-old is 49-3 in tour-level clay-court finals after winning the opening set. His last loss under the circumstances came against Novak Djokovic at the Foro Italico four years ago.

THIRD SET - Nadal 6-3
Zverev has all the momentum in this final. He gained the break advantage with a smart return, looping it high and deep so he could quickly change court positioning, keeping Nadal back while hurrying up to the baseline. He took advantage of that by throwing in a drop shot and following it in — while the Spaniard got a racquet on the German's volley, Nadal missed wide.

Rain caused a delay with Nadal serving at 1-3 15/0. At that point, the top seed had won just four of nine (44 per cent) of his first-serve points in the decider. The players quickly returned to court, and Nadal held. But the rain began to fall again, sending the players back inside. After a 45-minute delay, the finalists returned to the court and resumed play once again.

This time, Nadal immediately showed aggressive intentions, pressuring Zverev and forcing the German to stay deep behind the baseline. That intensity helped the Spaniard break back for 3-3, before holding to 15 to take the lead. The left-hander struggled to gain an advantage with his first serve through his first four service games in the decider, winning just 59 per cent (10/17) of those points. But Zverev could not take advantage and push Nadal back far enough with his second-serve returns.

Nadal maintained his aggression, pressuring Zverev to break again, before serving out the match. He finished it off with beautiful touch at the net, carving a crosscourt backhand drop volley from near the service line.

Rafael Nadal wygrał przerywany przez opady deszczu finał turnieju ATP World Tour Masters 100 na kortach ziemnych w Rzymie. Hiszpan przegrywał 2:3 w decydującym secie meczu z Alexandrem Zverevem, ale po wznowieniu gry pokonał Niemca.

Broniący tytułu Alexander Zverev stanął przed bardzo trudnym zadaniem. Rozgrywał 14. z rzędu mecz w ciągu trzech tygodni i mógł odczuwać spore zmęczenie. Do tego na jego drodze stanął Rafael Nadal, z którym wcześniej przegrał już czterokrotnie. Hiszpan był spragniony, aby po pięciu latach odzyskać mistrzostwo w Rzymie i powrócić tym samym na pierwszą pozycję w rankingu ATP.
16-krotny mistrz wielkoszlemowy zaczął niedzielny pojedynek od utraty serwisu, ale szybko uzyskał przewagę na korcie. Reprezentant naszych zachodnich sąsiadów nie był w stanie złapać właściwego dla siebie rytmu i przegrywał kolejne punkty. Nadal bardzo dobrze rozgrywał wymiany i wykorzystywał swoje szanse. Postarał się, aby 21-latek z Hamburga ani razu nie utrzymał podania i pewnie wygrał premierową odsłonę 6:1.

Ale Zverev nie przestraszył się bardziej utytułowanego rywala i zrobił wszystko, aby wrócić do gry. Postawiony pod ścianą prezentował coraz lepszy tenis i momentami gonił Hiszpana po głównej arenie Foro Italico. Nadal stracił inicjatywę i pozwolił Niemcowi na agresywną grę. Była to sytuacja, którą fani mogli zobaczyć już w sobotę, gdy w decydującym momencie Zverev odwrócił losy spotkania z Marinem Ciliciem.

Zverev uzyskał dwa przełamania i nie pozwolił, aby Nadal odrobił stratę. Drugiego seta wygrał 6:1, zaś w trzecim szybko postarał się o breaka. I wówczas, przy stanie 3:1 dla Niemca, nad Rzymem otworzyło się niebo i zaczął padać deszcz. Tenisiści zeszli z kortu na 10 minut, a po wznowieniu tenisista z Majorki zdołał tylko utrzymać podanie. Gra znów została przerwana, tym razem na ponad godzinę. Jak się okazało, był kluczowy moment tego pojedynku, bowiem po wznowieniu finału Rafa nie dał młodemu przeciwnikowi żadnych szans.

Hiszpan triumfował 6:1, 1:6, 6:3, ale zdecydowanie nie był to w jego wykonaniu wybitny mecz. W ciągu ponad dwóch godzin skończył 19 piłek i miał 21 niewymuszonych błędów. Do tego czterokrotnie stracił serwis, z czego dwa razy w fatalnym drugim secie, w którym posłał tylko jedno kończące uderzenie. Ostatecznie jednak to doświadczenie wzięło górę, gdyż Niemiec nie zachował spokoju po wznowieniu gry w połowie trzeciego seta. Sasza miał w niedzielę 21 winnerów i 29 pomyłek.

Nadal wygrał międzynarodowe mistrzostwa Włoch już po raz ósmy w karierze (wcześniej w latach 2005-2007, 2009-2010 i 2012-2013), ale na tytuł w Rzymie czekał od 2013 roku. To jego 78. trofeum w głównym cyklu, przez co wyprzedzi na liście wszech czasów Amerykanina Johna McEnroe'a i będzie samodzielnie zajmował siódmą pozycję. Dzięki zwycięstwu nad Zverevem powróci w poniedziałek na pierwsze miejsce w rankingu ATP, gdyż wyprzedzi Rogera Federera. Z kolei pokonany przez niego Niemiec zostanie najlepszym singlistą sezonu.

W niedzielę wyłoniono również nowych mistrzów turnieju debla. W Rzymie triumfowali Juan Sebastian Cabal i Robert Farah, którzy pokonali hiszpańsko-portugalską parę Pablo Carreno i Joao Sousa 3:6, 6:4, 10-4. Dla Kolumbijczyków to największe wspólne trofeum w głównym cyklu. Dzięki niemu są już niemal pewni występu w londyńskich Finałach ATP World Tour, do których bardzo pragnęli się w tym roku zakwalifikować.

Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Rzym (Włochy)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000, kort ziemny, pula nagród 4,872 mln euro
niedziela, 20 maja

finał gry pojedynczej:

Rafael Nadal (Hiszpania, 1) - Alexander Zverev (Niemcy, 2) 6:1, 1:6, 6:3

ATPWorldTour.com looks at the top Movers of the Week in the ATP Rankings, as of Monday, 21 May 2018
It's only the fifth month of the 2018 ATP World Tour season, but already No. 1 in the ATP Rankings has changed hands four times.
Rafael Nadal started the season at the top spot. Roger Federer took over on 19 February, then Nadal again on 2 April, only for Federer, once more, to take back control on 14 May. Nadal wrestled back No. 1 on Monday.
The four changes at No. 1 this season are the most since 2003, when there were five. The all-time record for most changes is 10, which happened in 1983.
No. 1 Rafael Nadal, +1
Nadal is back at No. 1 in the ATP Rankings. It's a familiar spot for the Spaniard, who's beginning his 174th week at the top spot.
The 31-year-old won his eighth Internazionali BNL d'Italia title on Sunday, beating Alexander Zverev for the fifth time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series (5-0). Nadal was dominant in nearly every area during the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, but especially when returning. The Spaniard won 45 per cent of his return games (22/49), including five of 11 against Zverev.
You May Also Like: Rafa Reigns In Rome, Returns To No. 1
No. 4 Marin Cilic, +1
Before Rome, the Croatian was 0-5 in Masters 1000 quarter-finals on clay. Make that 1-5. Cilic snapped his losing streak in the Rome quarter-finals against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta before falling to eventual finalist Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.
The 29-year-old Cilic is now one spot away from matching his career-high ATP Ranking of No. 3, which he held as recently as 22 April.
Cilic
No. 12 Diego Schwartzman, +3
In a sport increasingly played by men taller than 6'3”, the 5'7” Schwartzman should serve as an inspiration to anyone looking to pick up a racquet. The Argentine is at a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 12 after making the second round in Rome (l. to Paire).
Schwartzman has been on an upward trend all season. He started 2018 at No. 26.
Read More: Five Things We Learned In Rome
No. 17 Kyle Edmund, +2
The top Brit is another player who just seems to continue climbing the ATP Rankings. Edmund set a new career-high ATP Ranking by making the third round in Rome (l. to Zverev).
Two weeks ago, at the Mutua Madrid Open, the Brit reached his maiden Masters 1000 quarter-final (l. to Shapovalov). The 23-year-old Edmund is now 17-9 on the year. He finished 2017 an even 30-30.
View The ATP Rankings
No. 19 Fabio Fognini, +2
The home crowd was loving it. Fabio Fognini, Italy's No. 1, was up a set against seven-time champion Rafael Nadal in the Rome quarter-finals. Fognini's lead didn't last – Nadal advanced 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 – but the 30-year-old Fognini delivered his best Internazionali BNL d'Italia.
The Sanremo native had never reached the quarter-finals in Rome, but beat Gael Monfils, No. 8 Dominic Thiem and Peter Gojowczyk of Germany to earn the quarter-final matchup against Nadal.

Until this year, revered coach Toni Nadal was almost as much of a prominent fixture at Roland Garros as his celebrated nephew Rafael.

“Uncle Toni” was in the stands for all 10 of Rafael’s Parisian triumphs, dating back to the first in 2005 when Nadal was still just a teenager. When Rafa won his 10th – the fabled “Decima” of 2017 – Toni was awarded with a trophy of his own on court in a special ceremony for his role in the historic achievement.

But having served as Nadal’s head coach since the Spaniard’s first season on tour in 2003, Toni decided that 15 years of constantly travelling the globe was enough. The 2017 season was his last with Rafa on tour.

"ROLAND" CATCHES UP WITH TONI NADAL
SUNDAY 20 MAY 2018 - MATT TROLLOPE
Rafa's former coach discusses life post-Decima from the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.

Rafael et Toni Nadal à la remise des prix de Roland-Garros 2017./ Rafael and Toni Nadal at the trophy ceremony Roland-Garros 2017
©Corinne Dubreuil/FFT
Until this year, revered coach Toni Nadal was almost as much of a prominent fixture at Roland Garros as his celebrated nephew Rafael.


“Uncle Toni” was in the stands for all 10 of Rafael’s Parisian triumphs, dating back to the first in 2005 when Nadal was still just a teenager. When Rafa won his 10th – the fabled “Decima” of 2017 – Toni was awarded with a trophy of his own on court in a special ceremony for his role in the historic achievement.

But having served as Nadal’s head coach since the Spaniard’s first season on tour in 2003, Toni decided that 15 years of constantly travelling the globe was enough. The 2017 season was his last with Rafa on tour.

Toni Nadal et Rafael Nadal à Roland-Garros 2017.
©Corinne Dubreuil/FFT
As Rafael forges on with new head coach Carlos Moya, Toni now concentrates his coaching efforts at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in Mallorca, which also allows him to spend more time at home with his family. Roland visited Toni at the academy, where he oversees the training and development of the 130 students based there.

And the publication learned that, ever since he worked with Rafa as a child on the clay courts of Manacor, Toni urged his nephew to always strive for maximum effort, because he didn’t know life any other way.

He was demanding of Rafa, yet the lessons he imparted served his charge extremely well. Toni favoured simplicity: “I do not play a game of quantum physics or a theory of relativity. We play tennis. It is not very complicated,” he explained. And he always implored Rafa to never be completely satisfied, and to never find excuses.

These methods and philosophies and the story of their shared life, which helped shape Rafa into the player who rose to world No.1 and and win 16 major singles titles, are explored in Roland.

To celebrate Rafael Nadal's 10 triumphs in Paris, Babolat has organised a special exhibition event with Spain’s hero on Friday.
Rafael Nadal Roland-Garros vamos Rafa / French Open
© Corinne Dubreuil/FFT

At Roland-Garros, from the very first day, there’s always something happening. On Friday 25 May, as well as being able to attend the last qualifying matches and watch training sessions featuring your favourite players on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, your tickets will also allow you to see Rafael Nadal in action!

In celebration of the Spaniard’s 10 victories at Roland-Garros - using six generations of Babolat Pure Aero racquets - since 2005, the brand has decided to offer a unique experience to the public. All spectators at Roland-Garros will be able to attend (provided there are enough available places) an exhibition event featuring Nadal and 10 young French hopes, each playing with one of his 10 winning racquets.

The Pure Aero Decima racquet, the latest addition to the Pure Aero family designed by Babolat and on the market since March 2018, will be showcased during this demonstration. It’s with this racquet that Nadal this year won Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome, and he will also use it to defend his Roland-Garros title.

The exhibition event, hosted by Marc Maury with the help of Eric Babolat, will also offer the chance for fans to see another former Roland-Garros champion and enjoy the many surprises in store. For example, some may have the opportunity to take part on court as a ball boy or girl. There’ll also be the opportunity to leave with a souvenir photo.

Where: Court 15 at Roland-Garros

Date: Friday 25 May

Time: 11.30am

Note: no tickets are sold at Stade Roland-Garros so remember to buy your tickets through the official ticket office site.

Spanish star set to draw upon his experience in Paris

Rafael Nadal has been tested — by his body, as well as his opponents this year — in pressure situations and he arrives at Roland Garros full of confidence and seeking his 11th trophy at the clay-court major.

In spite of an outstanding 79-2 record on Parisian red dirt, the World No. 1 cannot define what makes May in the French capital so pleasing. “I’m not sure what it is about Roland Garros that brings out the best in me; but playing on clay, where I've had so much success, and also having to play best-of-five matches, all of that makes a difference."

Set to face Alexandr Dolgopolov in the first round, the 31-year-old feel’s he's physically in a good place, but is well aware he'll need to be better than good if he's to win his 17th Grand Slam championship trophy.

"I'm feeling good,” said Nadal, who had suffered from a right hip injury earlier in the year. “Of course, after a very tough start to the season with two injuries, I've managed to come back and play very well. I’ve played a lot of matches this season and have had good success. Every tournament is different, and here in Paris we're trying to get in some solid practices so that I'm fit and ready for my first match. I want to be as competitive as I can be from the start."

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The Spanish superstar has dominated the spring European clay swing, winning 11th titles at both the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (d. Nishikori) and the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell (d. Tsitsipas), in addition to his 32nd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown — and eighth — Internazionali BNL d’Italia last week (d. A. Zverev). With a 23-2 mark this year, he has compiled a 19-1 record on red dirt.

But it was his Madrid quarter-final loss to Dominic Thiem, on 11 May, which snapped 21-match and 50 consecutive sets winning streaks on clay courts, in addition to battling wins over Fabio Fognini, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev at the Foro Italico in Rome, which have tested the mettle of the World No. 1.

"Everyone knows Madrid is the most difficult clay court event of the season," Nadal explained. "Because of the high altitude, the balls tend to fly. I lost. After that, it was important for me to stay strong mentally and to focus on Rome.

"I think I played a good tournament in Rome, winning some important matches, and at the same time pushing through tough situations — situations that I didn't have to endure at events leading up to this. I’ve had plenty of high-pressure moments, and I came back from a set down against Fognini. Then, I played a very tough first set against Novak in the semi-finals. The final had a little bit of everything. These situations help to keep me going and help me stay confident. It's tennis; it's normal to find yourself in difficult spots like I did [in Rome]."

After a one-week hiatus, following his loss in Madrid, Nadal is back at No. 1 in the ATP Rankings and looking forward to creating more history in Paris.

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