Novak Djokovic wins Italian Open, now has most Masters titles in his bag

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World number one Novak Djokovic won a record 36th Masters title by beating Diego Schwartzman in the Italian Open.

The Serb, playing in his first tournament since being disqualified from this month’s US Open, won 7-5 6-3 in the final to ensure he goes into next week’s French Open on a high.

Italian Open : Djokovic wins, now has most Masters title wins to his name

Djokovic, 33, drew level with Rafael Nadal last month on the all-time list of Masters winners with his Western & Southern Open title.

Most Masters 1000 Titles 

Novak Djokovic 36

Rafael Nadal 35

Roger Federer 28

Andre Agassi 17

Andy Murray 14

 

“I’m super pleased,” Djokovic said.

“It was a great week, a very challenging week. I don’t think I played my best tennis this week but I think I found my best tennis in the decisive moments.

“I’m proud I managed to needed to find that fifth gear when I needed to.”

Watched by a crowd of about 1,000 socially distanced fans, Djokovic got off to a poor start against Argentine eighth seed Schwartzman, but finally got the grip on the set and match and won 7-5, 6-3

It is Djokovic’s 81st career title and fourth of the year and sends him to Roland Garros with a spring in his step after his humiliating exit from the US Open, where he was defaulted for accidentally hitting a ball at a line judge. 

The French Open starts on Sunday, with Nadal seeking a record-extending 13th men’s singles title in Paris.  

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