ROME: Rafael Nadal is right back where he wants to be heading into the French Open. Alexander Zverev is in a good place entering Roland Garros, too.

Nadal came out on top in a matchup of this year’s top two clay-court players on Sunday, beating defending champion Zverev 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 Sunday to win a record-extending eighth Italian Open title.

Coming a week after a loss in the Madrid Open quarter-finals to Dominic Thiem, Nadal has his confidence back entering the year’s second Grand Slam in Paris, which starts from Sunday.

“It’s been an amazing week,” Nadal said. “It was tough losing in Madrid so to come back and win the trophy here is great.”

Nadal recovered from an early break in the third set after a 50-minute rain delay, winning four straight games to close it out once the players returned to the court.

“The rain break was so important, I didn’t think it would help me but it did. I was able to come back out with clear ideas, I’m very happy,” said Nadal.

“To win Rome eight times is amazing, it’s hard to describe. To have the chance to win here again is so great. As for Roland Garros, I’m going to enjoy this victory and think about Paris in a few days.”

Still, Zverev was pleased that he dominated Nadal in the second set and was up a break in the third before the rain came.

“I was not far away from beating Rafa on a clay court in a Masters final, so I guess I can take that to Paris,” Zverev said.

Nadal, who improved to 5-0 in his career against Zverev, has won a record 10 French Opens.

“Of course Rafa will be the favorite there,” said Zverev, who has never been past the fourth round in a major. “I’ll be in the other half of the draw and that’s a good thing.”

The win gave the Spaniard his 56th title on clay and he will reclaim the world number one ranking from Roger Federer, who is sitting out the clay season to prepare for Wimbledon, when the revised ATP standings are released on Monday.

“My first victory here in 2005 is one of my greatest memories,” Nadal said during the trophy presentation. “To have this cup with me so many years later is really specialissimo.”

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2018