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DPA
Rome
World number one Novak Djokovic advanced to his 10th career final at the Rome Masters on Sunday following a 7-5, 6-3 semi-final win over 21-year-old Norwegian Casper Ruud.
The top two seeds in the women’s event, Simona Halep and defending champion Karolina Pliskova will contest Monday’s final with Halep hoping to win her first Rome trophy at the third attempt.
Halep defeated Spain’s Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 before Pliskova dispatched fellow Czech Marketa Vondrousova 6-2, 6-4.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will face Diego Schwartzman, who beat Rafael Nadal 6-2, 7-5, who shocked Nadal, or Canadian Denis Shapovalov, the 12th seed, next.
If he wins on Monday, Djokovic will claim a record-breaking 36th Masters trophy.
“The 1,000 Masters events are as important as it gets on the tour,” said Djokovic.
“These are the events where I want to perform my best other than grand slams and the World Tour Finals. Hopefully I can get another big trophy.”
All matches were the first ATP and WTA sanctioned events to be played in front of fans since the coronavirus pandemic halted both tours in March.
“Thanks God I don’t play Svitolina. I’m not playing her so I have a plus,” Halep joked with a smile.
“I really wish to win this title, but it’s always tough.”
Halep raced to the first set against Muguruza after she built a 4-1 lead with two breaks but the Spaniard bounced back from 3-1 down in the second set to level the match.
‘Strange not facing Nadal,’
Nine-time Rome winner Nadal Rafael Nadal crashed out in the quarter-final on his return from an enforced break.
“Of course, you know, with Nadal in the finals and without Nadal in the finals makes a big difference,” said Djokovic, who has lost three to Nadal, including last season.
“Most of the finals that I reached in the big events on clay I played against Rafa,” continued the Serb.
“So it’s going to be strange not facing him, but at the same time, I mean, Diego and Denis have deservedly reached the semi-finals.
“I won’t underestimate anybody that steps on the court against me tomorrow.”
Rome
World number one Novak Djokovic advanced to his 10th career final at the Rome Masters on Sunday following a 7-5, 6-3 semi-final win over 21-year-old Norwegian Casper Ruud.
The top two seeds in the women’s event, Simona Halep and defending champion Karolina Pliskova will contest Monday’s final with Halep hoping to win her first Rome trophy at the third attempt.
Halep defeated Spain’s Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 before Pliskova dispatched fellow Czech Marketa Vondrousova 6-2, 6-4.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will face Diego Schwartzman, who beat Rafael Nadal 6-2, 7-5, who shocked Nadal, or Canadian Denis Shapovalov, the 12th seed, next.
If he wins on Monday, Djokovic will claim a record-breaking 36th Masters trophy.
“The 1,000 Masters events are as important as it gets on the tour,” said Djokovic.
“These are the events where I want to perform my best other than grand slams and the World Tour Finals. Hopefully I can get another big trophy.”
All matches were the first ATP and WTA sanctioned events to be played in front of fans since the coronavirus pandemic halted both tours in March.
“Thanks God I don’t play Svitolina. I’m not playing her so I have a plus,” Halep joked with a smile.
“I really wish to win this title, but it’s always tough.”
Halep raced to the first set against Muguruza after she built a 4-1 lead with two breaks but the Spaniard bounced back from 3-1 down in the second set to level the match.
‘Strange not facing Nadal,’
Nine-time Rome winner Nadal Rafael Nadal crashed out in the quarter-final on his return from an enforced break.
“Of course, you know, with Nadal in the finals and without Nadal in the finals makes a big difference,” said Djokovic, who has lost three to Nadal, including last season.
“Most of the finals that I reached in the big events on clay I played against Rafa,” continued the Serb.
“So it’s going to be strange not facing him, but at the same time, I mean, Diego and Denis have deservedly reached the semi-finals.
“I won’t underestimate anybody that steps on the court against me tomorrow.”
