Djokovic Wins First Set Against Tsitsipas In Rome Final

Novak Djokovic has moved to within one set of capturing a record-breaking 38th ATP Masters 1000 crown Sunday after winning the first set against Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-0 in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final.

The Serbian became the fifth man in the Open Era to earn 1,000th match wins when he defeated Casper Ruud in the semi-finals and he backed that up with a strong first-set display against Tsitsipas on centre court.

The top seed flew out of the blocks as he returned with great depth, served well and controlled the tempo from the baseline with his watertight groundstrokes to move ahead after 30 minutes.

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Djokovic is appearing in his fourth straight final in Rome and is aiming to lift the trophy in the Italian capital for the sixth time, with his first triumph coming back in 2008. If he can close out the match, he will become the oldest Rome champion at 34 years, 11 months.

The 86-time tour-level titlist, who will spend a record-extending 370th week at No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from Monday, also defeated Tsitsipas at the clay-court event last year. Djokovic entered the match with a 6-2 lead in their ATP Head2Head series and is 4-0 against the Greek on clay.

The top seed reached the semi-finals in Madrid last week and has continued to build momentum in Rome. He has not dropped a set en route to the final, earning wins over Aslan Karatsev, Stan Wawrinka, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Casper Ruud.

Tsitsipas is trying to win his third ATP Masters 1000 title and second of the season after triumphing in Monte Carlo in April. The Greek, who will rise to No. 4 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday, saved two match points in his opening match against Grigor Dimitrov and has earned a Tour-leading 31 wins in 2022.