Novak Djokovic won his sixth Italian Open championship on Sunday with a 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas in Rome. While Iga Swiatek won her fifth consecutive tournament by defeating Ons Jabeur.
The number one player in the world, Djokovic, defeated the champion of the Monte Carlo Masters, Tsitsipas, to win the last major title before Roland Garros later this month.
The 34-year-victory old’s sealed his comeback to form after the first few months of the season were dominated by the Covid-19 vaccine scandal.
“I’ve been working on my form for the past few weeks, and as in previous years, I knew that my greatest form on clay usually arrives around the time of Rome.”
Therefore, there is no better moment to enter Roland Garros with a title.
Sunday’s showdown was a replay of the pair’s French Open final last year. But it lacked the excitement of that contest, which the Serb won in five sets.
Djokovic defeated Tsitsipas, who had also reached the semifinals of last week’s tournament in Madrid and still leads the men’s tour in wins this season, in a shockingly swift manner.
Tsitsipas, ranked fifth in the world, was dismantled in the first set and appeared unusually apprehensive to face Djokovic. However, he put up more of a fight in the second until he gave away the set when serving for the match, succumbing quickly in the tie-break.
Emotional, Djokovic then addressed the fans in Italian. Stating that they were the reason he had such a strong record there and revealed that his son Stefan was competing in his first tennis tournament.
Later, he announced that Djokovic junior had taken first place in a tiny Serbian club championship.
“My son won the event. Today is a double-Sunday, “Djokovic told the media you can check out OKBET.
A weeping Swiatek prevails
Iga Swiatek stated that she would treat Roland Garros like “any other tournament”. After retaining the women’s title by defeating Jabeur 6-2, 6-2.
Swiatek, ranked number one globally, shed tears of delight after winning her 28th consecutive match and will be a prohibitive favorite in Paris.
Swiatek stated, “I’m going to treat it like any other tournament; I believe everything will be great, and I’ll be able to keep it that way.”
“Because I already know I’ve done some fantastic things this season, I feel like I can play without any pressure to win.”
The 20-year-old Pole has lost just one set in her last 20 matches and handled Jabeur efficiently in a lopsided Rome final.
Last week, Tunisia’s Jabeur made history by becoming the first Arab or African woman to win a WTA 1000 title. However, she could not continue her 11-match winning streak against her tenacious opponent.
Jabeur entered her maiden Rome final on a scorching Foro Italico center court. After two exciting comeback victories against Daria Kasatkina and Maria Sakkara.
A set down, she had three breakpoints. Game seven of the second set brings the score to 4-3. But she lost the game after squandering another break opportunity at deuce.
“When she double-faulted at deuce, I wondered why she hadn’t done that a point or two earlier,” remarked Jabeur.
“I did everything to reach every area of the court.”
After reaching her second consecutive French Open final. Jabeur has risen one spot in the world rankings to sixth and is a formidable opponent at the French Open.
