Nadal And Swiatek Reign In Rome
Locker Room
May 17, 2021
Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek ensured a stunning climax to a fantastic week in the Italian capital.
This was one of the best tournaments of the year so far.
But nothing can come close to the buzz around Wimbledon 2021.
Rome certainly served to whet the appetite for the French Open before we move onto grass.
The King of Clay bagged his tenth Rome title with some startling forehand depth against Novak Djokovic.
Meanwhile the popular Pole completely demolished poor Karolina Pliskova with a merciless double bagel.
Nadal was always favourite to outlast Djokovic, who had to beat two players the previous day due to a schedule pile-up.
But having carelessly netted on his own serve to help hand Rafa the opener, Djokovic went into warrior mode to take the second set emphatically.
The extraordinary Serb even had break points at 2-2 to take control of the decider but fluffed his lines.
Nadal was more audacious and more determined to make a statement ahead of Roland Garros. There he will target an unbelievable fourteenth French Open crown.
And he was more than satisfied with his 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 victory as he matched Novak’s impressive record of 36 ATP Masters 1000 titles.
He said: ‘I have been playing better and better, finding my rhythm on clay. I had a very positive week and I’m very happy.
‘It’s amazing to have this trophy in my hands for the tenth time. It’s something impossible to imagine so I’m super-happy and can’t thank my team enough.’
Djokovic only leads Nadal by one win now in their head-to-head at 29-28. Another showdown at Roland Garros could see the Spaniard draw level in one of the greatest rivalries tennis has ever seen.
Meanwhile teenager Swiatek enters the top ten after her resounding win over Pliskova.
The French Open champion is totally unstoppable when she is in the mood.
And Swiatek was vibrant like never before as she raced to a 6-0, 6-0 victory in just 46 minutes.
She said: ‘It’s pretty crazy and I’m really proud of myself that I’m actually starting to be more consistent, because that was my goal at the beginning.’
Swiatek’s fresh resurgence is also fantastic news for Wimbledon 2021.
She was a junior champion on grass and is more than capable of taking the Championships by storm this year.
London’s huge Polish community will be preparing to support their new heroine in a few weeks’ time.
Would you like to be there?
Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Serena Williams will make Wimbledon 2021 an unforgettable experience.
It could be their last time on Centre Court.
And that makes Wimbledon 2021 simply unmissable.
Click here to secure your tickets to this year’s Championships.