Resurgences abound in Rome this week as a rain-battered tournament dealt another dramatic chapter to a stellar clay court 2019 season.
First we had Kyrgios‘ continued baffling behaviour that I’m afraid to say is looking increasingly likely to derail his promise and his career for good.
That, on the same day as both Djokovic and Federer were amongst those having to play twice in one day due to the rain. The Swiss coming off worse for wear after two gruelling victories. His leg injury no doubt extra cautious in light of Roland Garros next week.
Djokovic himself has looked excellent this week, some battling wins of his own against the likes of Del Potro and Schwartzman, so lethal on the clay.
But in the men’s tournament, this was Rafa’s week, as his competitors scraped and slid, there was a ruthless efficiency to Nadal’s victories, including over Tsitsipas.
Come the final today and a tired Novak ultimately had no answer to the King of Clay. Despite a stirring second set comeback, the 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 result was never in doubt.
A last footnote for Jo Konta, for so long now in the doldrums, but having recently shown signs of her old self was indeed back to winning ways this week in Rome.
Only the equally hot and cold Pliskova could usurp the ‘Brit’.
Paris cannot come soon enough.
All Things Tennis 