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Double shift for Novak Djokovic on Saturday in Rome
Photo:
Gregorio Borgia / AP
Either Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal have won 14 of the last 16 editions of the ATP Masters in Rome.
Now the two will meet in the finals in Italy's capital.
Djokovic prevailed 6: 3, 6: 7 (5: 7), 6: 2 against the Italian Lorenzo Sonego and is in the final of the 1000 tournament in Rome for the tenth time, where he meets Rafael Nadal.
Just a few hours earlier, Djokovic had won the quarter-finals against Stefanos Tsitsipas 4: 6, 7: 5, 7: 5 on Saturday morning.
The game actually scheduled for Friday was interrupted due to persistent rain and postponed to the following day.
The world number one had lost the first set against Tsitsipas and was also behind with a break in the second.
After a total of 3:18 hours of play, the Serbian had beaten his opponent from Greece in a partially spectacular game.
Sonego also forces Djokovic into the third sentence
Almost five hours later Djokovic won the first set against Sonego 6: 3, in the second he had a break and had two match points.
But the Italian, cheered on by the audience, was able to save himself in the tiebreak, which he then won.
In the third run, however, the rested Sonego could no longer keep up.
After 2:44 hours, Djokovic converted his third match point.
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Nadal prevailed in the semifinals against Reilly Opelka in two sets
Photo: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP
"I can only blame myself for not finishing the match after two sets," said Djokovic.
“I don't have much time to recover now.
Hopefully I'll have fresh legs again tomorrow. "
Nadal should have fresh legs on Sunday.
One day after his success over Alexander Zverev, the 34-year-old also defeated Reilly Opelka from the USA in two sets (6: 4, 6: 4).
The victory in his 500th clay court game brought Nadal the twelfth final at the Masters in Rome.
svs / sid / dpa