Sport

Nadal claims eighth title at Tennis Masters in Rome

21 May, 2018

Svitolina secures second win at Rome's Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

Rafael Nadal secured a record eighth Italian Open title following a stunning come-back final match against 20-year-old German Alexander Zverev in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia at Rome's Foro Italico.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, who lifted the Rome trophy seven times in nine years between 2005 and 2013, beat Zverev 6-1 1-6 6-3 on the evening of 20 May.
Nadal acknowledged that a delay caused by a rain shower helped him to fight back against Zverev who now holds the title of world number 3, after Swiss Roger Federer who missed this year's tournament.

Women's champion Elina Svitolina in Rome.

Earlier in the day 23-year-old Elina Svitolina from Ukraine beat world number one Simona Halep 6-0 6-4 to win a second consecutive Italian Open women's title.

Rome mayor Virginia Raggi, who attended the final between Nadal and Zverev, was greeted with whistles and boos from the crowd when she appeared on the big screen during a break from the game.