• Djokovic looked back to near his best despite defeat
Almost a year to the day since the 50th match of their rivalry – the longest in the Open era – Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic collided gloriously again under a beating sun in Rome, and the Spaniard was stretched to the limit to preserve his aura on clay a week before the French Open.
If Nadal wins his eighth Italian Open title on Sunday he will be back at No1 in the world; if he loses, the absent Roger Federer will stay at the top until 24 June – two days before the Wimbledon seedings are announced.
Written by Kevin Mitchell at Foro Italico
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/may/19/rafael-nadal-battles-past-novak-djokovic-italian-open under the title “Rafael Nadal battles past old foe Novak Djokovic into Italian Open final”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
