INQUIRER Sports

ROME ? Rafael Nadal won his record fourth Rome Masters title Sunday, beating defending champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (2), 6-2.

It?s the third clay-court title in three weeks for the top-ranked Spaniard, following victories at the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open.

?For sure it?s one of the biggest wins of my career,? Nadal said. ?It?s always incredible to win in Rome.?

Nadal extended his winning streak on clay to 30 matches, stretching back to an opening-round loss to Juan Carlos Ferrero in Rome last year.

By failing to defend his title, Djokovic will lose the No. 3 ranking to Andy Murray on May 11, when last year?s points drop out. The 21-year-old Serb has been No. 3 since August 2007.

Nadal broke an Open Era tie with Thomas Muster, who won Rome titles in 1990, 1995 and 1996. Jaroslav Drobny and Martin Mulligan also each won three titles before the Open Era.

Chris Evert holds the women?s record at the Foro Italico with five titles.

Rome is a key warmup for the French Open, which begins in three weeks. Nadal has won the last four titles at Roland Garros.

Djokovic performed an imitation of Nadal during the trophy presentation, rolling his sleeves up, pulling his shorts down slightly and reaching down to arrange his socks as Nadal does before every point.

?I can?t win on the court but I win the impression contest,? Djokovic said.

Nadal broke serve in the opening game of the match but Djokovic had his chances in the first set before losing control for good in the tiebreaker, sending a weak backhand drop-shot attempt into the net on Nadal?s third set point.

?That was one of the toughest moments of the match,? Nadal said. ?The first point of the tiebreak was for him and I had two chances to serve for the first set and lost both times. But I played the tiebreak well and that was the most important thing.?

Djokovic then double-faulted to hand Nadal a 4-2 lead in the second set.

?I had my chances,? said Djokovic, who rallied to beat Roger Federer in the semifinals. ?He overcomes the pressure better than me, that?s why he?s the best in the world. But overall, I?m pretty happy with the week.?

Djokovic said fast conditions made it tough for him to handle Nadal?s heavy topspin.

?The ball was bouncing really, really high here today and that made my shots really difficult, especially from the backhand side,? Djokovic said.

The match was a far cry from the Monte Carlo final two weeks ago, when Djokovic became the only player to take a set from Nadal on clay this year.

The match was played in alternating conditions, with wind swirling around inside the stadium when the sun disappeared for periods behind clouds.

Djokovic started off with a series of errors as he tried to flatten out his groundstrokes and go for winners to end rallies early. As the match wore on, he waited longer in rallies before going for winners with approach shots to the corners.

Still, Djokovic appeared unsure of his tactics at times. On one occasion in the first set, he attempted a serve-and-volley, but then retreated and watched Nadal?s winner sail by him, out of reach.

?Maybe I?ve got to get to the net faster and take more chances. I?ve got to improve, physically as well,? said Djokovic, who began working with Muster?s former trainer, Gebhard Phil-Gritsch, last week. /AP