Top seed Rafael Nadal won his eighth Italian Open title when he beat German Alexander Zverev 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in the final. He recovered from an early break in the third set after a 50-minute rain delay.
Rafa and Sascha had each won two titles on clay this season entering the final, with Nadal lifting trophies in Monte Carlo and Barcelona and Zverev taking Munich and Madrid.
Rafa improved to 5-0 in his career against Sascha and gained an extra measure of confidence entering the French Open, which starts next Sunday.
The King of Clay won his 78th title – his 32nd Masters title and his 56th clay-court crown.
Today’s victory means that Rafa will reclaim the No.1 spot when the revised ATP rankings are released next week.
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Amazing first set, a big fight in the second and third. So happy for you!!! Take rest and than good luck for the French-Open <3
We all thinknrain delay helped rafa …yes…but coming out from that break and when ur break down tonwin from there in final set needs much more credit to rafa play than rain and who knows even id rain doesnt came..still rafa could have turn around the match…he is such a champion so wrting him off is such a mistake…..its just a matter of few good points….and before rain rafa held his service game.. strongly….also the condition s after rain were same for both palyers with added mental advantage for zverev since he had break…so rain delay helped rafa but rafa game and mental ability needs more appreciation…vamos….
Congratulations rafa the true champion ….coming through such hard draw and winning the title is such a incredible thing u did surely it will only add lto ur confidence…..congrats….u r king of clay and king of tennis……u never give up attitude inspires a lot
Congratulations to a Champion and a Warrior. Appreciate the respectful speech from Z. An honour to witness Rafael on clay. 💪👊👍👏🏆👑🍾🙏🏻❣️
God bless you Rafa and keep you healthy in mind, body and spirit. Congratulations on your success today. Love you. Marylynn
Rafa I watch your much the first set it was good 6-1 to easy then 1-6. But I’m so happy you did 6-3 I’m so happy to win to good vamossssss champ 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🎾❤️Your fans love you.excelent good job don Rafa
I will never write Rafa off. He never ever gives up on a point. Did he play his best tennis? No, far fromit. Did the rain delay help him? Most certainly yes. It gave him a chance to regroup and rethink his strategy. I admire him even more wge his back is against the wall and he’s able to dig himself out of a hole. Rafa’s passion and relief at scrambling over the finish line was written all over his face. All credit to Zverev for such a competitive match.
OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ON BEAUTIFULLY EARNING THE HONORABLE NUMBER UNO TENNIS PLAYER IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) CI………CI…….CI…….: ) BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
ENJOY EVERYTHING & HAVE LOTS OF FUN PARTYING & SMILING & CELEBRATING ALL THAT YOU ARE WITH PRIDE AND JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WATCHING YOU TODAY WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL FEELING BECAUSE ALL ALONG WE KEPT KNOWING YOU WOULD PREVAIL AND MERGE THE VICTORIOUS HERO THAT YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOUR BRILLIANT TENNIS IS UNMATCHED BY ANYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) IT IS NATURAL TO HAVE ON AND OFF MOMENTS…..BUT YOUR INTENSITY AND INTENT IS ALWAYS PRESENT ……HEROIC AND MASTERFUL AND SO IT IS KIND OF A TREAT TO WITNESS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR MATCH FINDING SOLUTIONS AND UNIQUE WAYS TO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL HEROIC VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 : ) : ) : ) BEAUTIFUL MATCH FOR A BEAUTIFUL CHAMPION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) OUR FAVORITE ONE AND ONLY SENIOR CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) IT WAS VERY CLEAR YOU WOULD BE HOLDING THAT SHINNY TROPHY & ALL ALONG WE TRUSTED IN YOUR FIGHTING BRILLIANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) YOUR PRECIOUS UNMATCHED DESIRE TO PUT FORTH YOUR BEST NO MATTER WHAT……AND WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) OH YEH…….CI……..CI……CI…..THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER YOU ARE THE MOST POWERFUL GENUINE CHAMPION IN TENNIS HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU ARE A GIFT TO ALL OF US AVID TENNIS FANS AND WE ADMIRE YOU AND YOUR TENACITY BEYOND WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) LOVE THE WAY YOU MOVE ON THE COURT….AND THAT SPECIAL FOCUS IS SOMETHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) BEST BEST BEST EVER GOAT IN TENNIS LIFE DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) : ) CONGRATULATIONS SWEETHEART FOR ONCE AGAIN DISPLAYING YOUR EXTRAORDINARY TALENT AND YOUR SOLID PRESENCE ON THE COURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU HAVE THAT VERY INTUITIVE CONNECTION WITH YOUR RACKET AND BALL ……WHAT A GIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) THAT SOLID ECHOING SOUND OF YOUR RETURNS HITTING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR RACKET……PAAK……PAAK……PAAK …….LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) MUCHAS GRACIAS FOR ALL YOUR BEAUTIFUL HARD WORK AND EFFORTS AND BEAUTIFUL PRECIOUS TERNNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VERY IMPRESSIVE VICTORY AND EARNING YOUR EIGHT ROME TITLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) BIAN…..BIAN……BIAN…….LOVE YOUR INSTINCT FOR THE COURT CORNERS AND OVERALL SPACE AND HOW BEAUTIFULLY YOU RUN…..AND REACH……AND MAKE IMPOSSIBLE FH AND BH RETURNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART & GOD BLESS YOU! : ) ENJOY A FANTASTIC EVENING & LOTS OF FUN CELEBRATE YOUR BEAUTIFUL TITLE WITH YOUR LOVED ONES & THE TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) I LOVE ROIG ….HE IS ONE CLASSY TALENTED & POWERFUL COACH…….AND I ALWAYS ENJOY WHEN HE IS THERE ON THE COURT WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) HE IS SO KIND IN HIS APPROACH AND SO VERY EFFECTIVE WITH MODESTY AND LITTLE WORDS BUT LOTS OF SUBSTANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : )_ : ) JUST LIKE YOU ! : ) VAMOS TO YOU DEAR RAFA & ALL THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY YOUR TIME BETWEEN TOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEEK AND KEEP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART ! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
You are the ultimate warrior ! please always believe. You can beat everyone no1 in the world. Hope you can break the cause of a set 2 slump .. Well done champ .
Great comeback from Rafa and congratulations to him from me! The rain did play a part, but it also shows character from Rafa to put up with the delays and come back from a break down and after losing a set so decisively. There were several tough matches in this tournament, but Rafa made it through all of them and thoroughly deserves the trophy. I hope this win gives him confidence for RG.
Rafan
Wow just blinked my eyes for a second and Rafa did it.. missed the match after rain but not complaining at all 😃😃😃vamos Rafa
ENHORABUENA!!!…..campeon d capeones….no hay palabras para expresar lo k estas haciendo eres grande…Adelante!!! SIEMPRE CONTIGO!!!
ENHORABUENA!!!! Campeòn d campeones….no hay palabras para expresar mi alegria….ADELANTE SIEMPRE CONTIGO!!!!!!
Rafa, all I can say is the best decision I have made in my lifetime was to become one of your fans, you simply are the greatest without doubt.
Well said, Maria. Can’t agree with you more! We’re so fortunate to witness Rafa’s greatness! It was such a roller coaster match. But the way Rafa came back to win is truly amazing! Going through these tough matches (three in a row, from quarter-final on) will make him even stronger! Rafa, we love you!
Afraid I agree with mjus. I thought I was watching him lose. Thank you, rain…
Congratulation Rafa great finish , take that with you to Roland Garros and win one more trophy
Well done Rafa, I did not count on this turnaround after Rafa went into self doubt and self destruction mode! Congrats on yet another masters title. I must say though, the nerves that returned and the rain delayed that saved Nadal, it does not look as good for RG as it did a year ago. The real form and confidence aren’t there yet. Let’s wait and see!
I know that rafa doesnt believe in god but he should reconsider it after this match and thank the rain for helping him out without rain break he probably would have lost i am honest to admit that. Thanks to this title he will go with momentum to paris. But make no mistake zverev, thiem are the main challenger followed by dark horse djokovic.
And finally off course congratulations to the goat of clay
A true and brave champion. Shlda been somewhere an hour ago so dashing off and am overjoyed