05/16/2021 11:50 AM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 05/16/2021 11:50 AM
The Serbian Novak Djokovic, world number one, and the Spanish Rafael Nadal (3), champion nine times in the Foro Italico, will define this Sunday the title of the Masters 1000 in Rome, a tournament played on brick dust with prizes of 2.5 millions of euros.
The clash between these two world tennis legends is broadcast live on ESPN2.
Djokovic, who on Saturday finished his quarterfinal matches against Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and then eliminated local Lorenzo Sonego in the semifinals in two hours and 44 minutes of play, went on to the 118th final of his career, the eleventh in Rome, where he has five titles (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2020).
In total, the 33-year-old Serbian won 82 ATP trophies.
Today's final against Nadal, the top winner in the Masters 1000 in Rome with 9 titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2019) and who has 87 in his career, will be the confrontation official number 57 between the two, the most repeated in history.
'Nole' leads 29-27 and 16-12 in finals, although on brick dust 'Rafa' dominates with a record of 18-7 and 3-2 in Rome finals.
Nadal, world number 3, beat American Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals and will seek his tenth title in the Italian tennis tournament.
The 34-year-old Spaniard thus advanced to his 52nd final in the Masters 1000 category tournaments, one less than Djokovic, who holds the record in that field.
