Colpo doppio di Rafael Nadal, che ha riconquistato il Masters 1000 di Roma, per l'ottava volta ma soltanto la prima dal 2013, e la vetta della classifica ATP, riprendendola a Roger Federer a cui l'aveva ceduta la scorsa settimana.
Dopo aver dominato il primo set, iniziato però subendo un break, e perso seccamente il secondo contro il tedesco campione uscente Alexander Zverev, il maiorchino ha approfittato delle lunghe pause dovute alla pioggia abbattutasi sul Foro Italico per rientrare in partita nella terza frazione e imporsi 6-1 1-6 6-3.
Per l'iberico si tratta del 19o successo in 20 partite sulla terra rossa in questa stagione (l'unico ko a quarti a Madrid contro Thiem), successo che coincide con la prima sconfitta dopo 13 vittorie consecutive per il 21enne tedesco, vincitore in precedenza proprio del torneo della capitale spagnola e di quello di Monaco.
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