By Daily Sports on May 20, 2018

The latest instalment in the rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic met expectations for one tight set.

Then Nadal pulled away for a 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 win to reach the Italian Open final.

In their 51st meeting but first in more than a year, Nadal’s court coverage eventually proved too much to handle for Djokovic, who is still regaining his form after returning from a persistent right elbow injury.

“That was a tough battle, a good level of tennis, a combination of good tactics and great shots from both of us,” Nadal, who has had injury trouble of his own over the past year, said.

Nadal’s opponent in Sunday’s final will be defending champion Alexander Zverev, who recovered from an early break in the second set to beat Marin Cilic 7-6 (13-11) 6-4.

Meanwhile Simona Halep has come from a set down to defeat Maria Sharapova and set up a repeat of last year’s Italian Open against Elina Svitolina in Rome.

Sharapova has produced her best week since defeating Halep on her way to the fourth round of the US Open last summer, and again seriously troubled the world No.1.

But her epic victory over French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter-finals must have taken its toll and, after Sharapova won the first set, Halep fought back to triumph 4-6 6-1 6-4. (Reuters)

•Photo: Spain’s Rafael Nadal

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 20, 2018

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