Halep lifts her first Italian Open trophy

Rome: Novak Djokovic claimed a record 36th Masters crown yesterday, beating Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the final of the Italian Open.

The world number one came through 7-5, 6-3 in just under two hours to move ahead of Spanish rival Rafael Nadal (35) in the number of Masters titles.

Serb Djokovic won a fifth Rome title, and first since 2015, in the warm-up clay-court tournament for next week’s French Open. Nine-time Rome winner Nadal, the defending champion, fell in the quarter-finals to eighth-seed Schwartzman.

Djokovic had been unbeaten this season before his US Open disqualification for hitting a line judge with a ball in frustration.

The 33-year-old has won four trophies from five events in 2020 — the Australian Open, Dubai, Cincinnati, which was hosted in New York, and Rome.

It was the 10th Rome final for Djokovic who has lost three times since his last victory, including last year to Nadal.

Schwartzman, 15th in the world, took Djokovic’s first two service games to led 3-0.

But Djokovic rallied for his fifth win over the Argentinian, to extend his record to 31 wins out of his 32 matches this year.

Halep beat Pliskova

Simona Halep lifted her first Italian Open trophy on yesterday, a confidence-boost ahead of next week’s French Open, after defending champion Karolina Pliskova retired injured in the Rome final.

World number two Halep was competing in her third Rome WTA final, having finished runner-up in 2017 and 2018 on the clay at the Foro Italico. The top seed finally won her coveted trophy after Czech Pliskova retired while trailing 6-0, 2-1 in the final.