• Rome Masters

Phenomenal Djokovic inflicts more pain on Nadal

Novak Djokovic broke Rafael Nadal four times © PA Photos

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Rome Masters seedings

Novak Djokovic is yet to lever Rafael Nadal out of his throne as world No. 1 on the ATP Tour, but the current occupant must surely know he is living on borrowed time after Djokovic turned on the style to win the Rome Masters title on Sunday.

Nadal ensured he remains on top of the pile by reaching the semi-finals in Italy this week, but he has now lost in two of his favourite competitions, on his favoured surface, both in the space of seven days to the quite impenetrable Djokovic. Having been beaten in Madrid last week, Nadal suffered a repeat in Rome, losing 6-4 6-4.

This was the first time in five years, dating back to when Nadal beat Roger Federer, that the two top-ranked players had reached the Rome final. The result was a feast of classy tennis, with Nadal belligerent and stubborn behind the baseline, while Djokovic arrowed the ball left and then right with a trajectory so low that even the athletic phenomenon that is Nadal could not cope.

Only Juan Carlos Ferrero had ever beaten the Spaniard in the Rome event, a tournament he has won on five occasions. Nadal also led the head-to-head on clay 9-1, but Djokovic will be dominated no longer.

In a high-quality opening to the match, no break points arrived in the first seven games, which saw Nadal looking to intimidate with his power, while Djokovic answered with searing ground strokes and deft hands at the net.

Rafael Nadal had no answers to Novak Djokovic © Getty Images

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A first break finally arrived when Nadal miscued a backhand off the frame of his racket, but he responded immediately when a series of net-shaving backhands forced Djokovic to err. That dragged Nadal back to 4-5, but he lost his serve for a second time when Djokovic found another seemingly impossible angle with a crosscourt backhand, closing out the set 6-4.

Djokovic's form in 2011 has been staggering, winning 37 on the bounce and triumphing in seven straight finals. He had beaten Nadal in their three previous meetings this year, and he made the ideal start to the second set, breaking his rival's serve for a third consecutive time. Striking the ball with visibly more zip, the Serb forced three break points, the last of which Nadal sliced wide.

Nadal had only lost three of 34 ATP Tour finals on clay, and he showed why by breaking back immediately, before twice seeing off break chances from Djokovic to stay on course at 3-3. The top seed was beginning to read his rival's drop shots and subtle variations, threatening to go ahead himself in the set, but too often Djokovic pinned the left-hander deep before daggering the ball across court.

With Nadal serving to stay in the match at 4-5, Djokovic accelerated to 0-40, only to be pegged back to deuce. The 2011 version of Djokovic is every bit as steely as Nadal though, and he created another match point, which he crashed towards the feet of Nadal from the net to confirm his growing supremacy over the increasingly fragile-looking King of Clay.

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