Novak Djokovic wins Rome Masters 1000 for the fifth time

Two weeks after his disqualification from the US Open, the “winning machine” Novak Djokovic started again with a vengeance, winning a fifth Masters 1000 in Rome, less than a week from Roland Garros. The world number one landed, Monday, September 21, a 36e Masters 1000 title, a record, now surpassing Rafael Nadal, who has 35 titles. And this, less than a month after having already conquered that of Cincinnati, relocated to New York.

Simona Halep, another great favorite expected on Parisian clay, also prepared in the most beautiful way by winning for the first time in Rome, after two finals lost in 2017 and 2018. She took advantage of the Abandonment in the second set, due to injury, of the defending champion, the Czech Karolina Pliskova.

Despite the absence – “Strange”, he said on Sunday – of Rafael Nadal this year against him in the final, Novak Djokovic was wary of Diego Schwartzman (15e world player), striker of the Spaniard in the quarter-finals.

The Argentinian, after spending more than three hours on the court on Sunday night for the semi-finals, however, had fewer legs in this final disputed in light rain. And, despite a great start (3-0, taking twice the service of an annoyed and imprecise Djokovic), Schwartzman, for his first Masters 1000 final, could not do anything against the world number one, admittedly far of his best tennis but still as effective in the decisive moments (7-5, 6-3).

Read also Tennis: Novak Djokovic wins Cincinnati Masters 1000

“Even though I haven’t played my best tennis, I’m satisfied”

With this victory, “Djoko” signs his fifth victory in Rome (in ten finals), but the first since 2015, he who remained on three finals lost (2016, 2017 and 2019).

“It’s been a good week, although I haven’t played my best tennis. I am satisfied “, launched during the awards ceremony “Nole”, who will have succeeded in his return to clay (with only one round conceded to Rome) at the end of the hard season punctuated by the title in Cincinnati but also his disqualification at the US Open, his only defeat in 2020.

Simona Halep, she sets course for Roland-Garros “Without pressure, smiling”, but with a real favorite label after her victory in Rome.

Karolina Pliskova couldn’t really defend her title due to a pain in her thigh. “It got worse day by day. This morning I even wondered if I was going to play, but you still want to try ”, explained the Czech, who “Hope” be restored for Roland-Garros but awaiting the advice of doctors to assess the exact nature of her injury.

Swept 6-0 in the first set, she seemed to recover in the second and had even just won her first game when she headed for Halep to signify the end of the match (6-0, 2-1).

” In security “

After two finals lost in 2017 and 2018, Halep won for the first time on Roman clay and won his third consecutive tournament after Dubai and Prague, less than a week before Roland-Garros kick-off, exceptionally moved in fall due to coronavirus pandemic.

The Romanian woman signs her 14the consecutive victory. This series had started before the interruption of competitions due to coronavirus with its title in Dubai in February and continued in the resumption with its success in Prague in August.

“I want to thank everyone, because the tournament went well, and in these conditions it is not easy. We felt really safe and really good on and off the courts, even though we often stayed in our rooms. We do with it, because we like to play tournaments ”, she stressed.

Because of the coronavirus, players were required to stay at their hotel, when they were not at the stadium. A life under the bell, which the return of spectators since Sunday – within a limit of 1,000 maximum – has somewhat animated, before reuniting with even more spectators in Paris.

Read also Roland-Garros in the era of Covid, between reduced gauges and players kept in the eye

The World with AFP

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