World No. 1 Novak Djokovic revealed that he is delighted with where his game is after he captured a record-extending 38th ATP Masters 1000 crown on Sunday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

The Serbian, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final, did not drop a set en route to his sixth title in Rome and earned his 1000th match win along the way.

“I couldn’t ask for a better week really,” Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. “[I] played a perfect set today. Didn’t drop a set the whole tournament. I trusted the process really when I started training on clay…

“I usually peak here in Rome. I’ve had six titles but also had a lot of finals and semi-finals. Always a really good week of tennis with a lot of matches, and competitiveness on the court. Anything that I was really looking for here in Rome I got.”

The 34-year-old’s victory in the Italian capital has marked an impressive turnaround for Djokovic, who lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his opening match in Monte Carlo just a month ago.

Despite his struggles at the start of the European clay swing, the top seed said that while he ‘felt rusty’, he never panicked and believed he would regain his best level providing that he played matches.

“I think physically I really felt really good from Madrid onwards,” Djokovic added when discussing his run to the semi-finals in Spain. “Already there I felt like the physical issues that I was facing in Monte Carlo and Serbia were behind me. I put in a lot of fitness hours between Serbia and Madrid.”

Pleased with his progress, Djokovic will now turn his attention to Roland Garros, where he will pursue the title and draw level with Rafael Nadal on 21 Grand Slam crowns.

“I could not ask for a better lead-up to Roland Garros really,” Djokovic said. “Serbian Open finals, really working my way through the tournament physically. Then Madrid, better performances, but still maybe not as sharp in those decisive moments. And here everything kind of came together and clicked.

“I’m going to Paris with confidence and good feelings about my chances there.”

Tallon Griekspoor notched an impressive opening win Sunday at the Gonet Geneva Open, with the Dutchman taking out sixth seed Tommy Paul 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-4 in the first round at the ATP 250 event.

World No. 67 Griekspoor enjoyed a spectacular 2021 as he won eight titles on the ATP Challenger Tour, a single-season record. That run of successes contributed to the Dutchman reaching a career-high of No. 54 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on 28 February this year, but he arrived in Geneva chasing a first tour-level win since February.

There was no lack of confidence on display from Griekspoor in Switzerland, however, as he broke proven clay-courter Paul five times in a two-hour, 48-minute win. Griekspoor’s second-round opponent at the Tennis Club de Geneve will be a home favourite, either Johan Nikles or Leandro Riedi.

FOLLOW THIS WEEK’S ACTION

📺 TV Schedule
🎾 Watch Live On Tennis TV
📱 Follow Live Scores On ATP Tour App
📧 Sign Up For Newsletters

There was also an upset in the other first-round match played on Sunday, as Kamil Majchrzak beat World No. 41 Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3 to clinch the biggest win of his career.

Majchrzak won the opening five games of the match on his way to the opening set against eighth seed Bublik. Although the Montpellier champion found his feet to take the second set tie-break and force a decider, Majchrzak broke late in the third set to earn just his second victory over a Top 50 opponent in 16 attempts. Awaiting the Pole in the second-round will be qualifier Marco Cecchinato or former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem.

In the one doubles match played, Roman Jebavy and Hunter Reese defeated Ricardas Berankis and Albert Ramos-Vinolas, 6-3, 6-4.

Daniil Medvedev returns to action this week at the Gonet Geneva Open for his first competition of the clay-court season. The World No. 2 is ready to compete following a “small procedure” to repair a “small hernia” after Miami.

“I feel great. [I] managed to get around I would say two weeks of good practice and one week of full practice,” Medvedev said. “[I] decided that it’s going to be good to prepare [for the] French Open, to get some matches here. Some matches, hopefully more than one.”

Medvedev will be making his debut in Geneva, where he will play former Top 10 star Richard Gasquet or Australian John Millman in his opening match. The 26-year-old, who has posted several videos of himself training in recent weeks, is hoping to get off to a quick start on his return.

This will be Medvedev’s first appearance on clay since losing in last year’s Roland Garros quarter-finals against Stefanos Tsitsipas, and he is hoping to adjust to the surface quickly. “It’s never been easy for me on clay courts to straightaway start good,” Medvedev said.

The 13-time tour-level champion will pursue his first title of the year in Switzerland and his maiden crown on clay. He will have to overcome a tough field, which includes potential quarter-final opponent Dominic Thiem, defending champion Casper Ruud and third seed Denis Shapovalov.

Most importantly, Medvedev is feeling well leading into his first tournament in six weeks.

“I’m feeling good,” Medvedev said. “Physically, I’m feeling ready.”

Novak Djokovic’s first title of the season, which he claimed Sunday in Rome, was big in more ways than one.

The World No. 1 showed he is back to top form by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-0, 7-6(5) to triumph at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, and also extended his lead in the ‘Big Titles’ race. The Serbian now has 63 of them, putting him five clear of Rafael Nadal (58) and nine ahead of Roger Federer (54). A ‘Big Title’ is a trophy at a Grand Slam championship, the Nitto ATP Finals, an ATP Masters 1000 tournament or an Olympic singles gold medal.

The 34-year-old has now earned at least one ‘Big Title’ in 11 of the past 12 years. He has also lifted at least one tour-level trophy in 17 consecutive seasons. With his sixth crown in Rome, Djokovic extended his record number of ATP Masters 1000 trophies to 38, putting him two in front of Nadal.

Djokovic still owns the best ‘Big Titles’ win-rate at one title won per 3.3 events played (63/205), while Nadal is second in the category, winning one for every 3.5 tournaments played at this level (58/201). Only Roger Federer (4.4, 54/240) and Pete Sampras (4.9, 30/147) have claimed a ‘Big Title’ at a rate of greater than once per five events played.

Current and Former Champions’ Big Titles Won (Records Since 1990)

^ Includes Olympic Games gold medals and tournament participations
* Becker’s four other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
** Edberg’s three other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
*** Chang’s one Grand Slam title came before 1990

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.

FOLLOW THIS WEEK’S ACTION

📺 TV Schedule
🎾 Watch Live On Tennis TV
📱 Follow Live Scores On ATP Tour App
📧 Sign Up For Newsletters

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.

It’s been a long wait, but Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic are back in the winners’ circle.

The defending champions edged a dramatic encounter with John Isner and Diego Schwartzman at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Sunday afternoon in Rome, clinching their fourth ATP Masters 1000 title together with a 6-2, 6-7(6) 12-10 championship match victory.

Mektic and Pavic earned nine tour-level titles last season on their way to finishing 2021 as the year-end No. 1 team in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Team Rankings. They were yet to win a title in 2022 prior to arriving in Rome, but looked at home once again at the Foro Italico as they defended their 2021 crown for the loss of just one set all week.

“It’s big, we kind of started the year a little bit slow,” said Pavic after the match. “We were struggling, we were a little unlucky. It was not ideal.

“Obviously the first title of the year, it means a lot to gain some confidence. It’s been a while. We won a lot of tournaments last year, so always to win the title is a pretty good achievement, especially as it’s a Masters 1000 title.”

“It means so much,” added Mektic. “I mean, 11-9 [in the Match Tie-break], I don’t have to talk too much about it. Each point is so important, so I’m so, so happy that we made it this time.”

In contrast to their experienced opponents, Isner and Schwartzman were partnering for the first time in Rome. The duo became affectionately known as #Isnerman by fans, and the American-Argentine pair rallied well after an underwhelming first-set performance in Sunday’s final. They were inches from clinching the title themselves in the Match Tie-break, with a Schwartzman forehand just missing the line when they led 10/9.

A one-sided opening set saw Schwartzman and Isner broken once each as Mektic and Pavic started quickly. The Croatians were energetic at the net and solid from the baseline as Isner and Schwartzman struggled to settle into the encounter on Pietrangeli.

After a tighter second set was dominated by serve, Mektic and Pavic were on the brink of the title at 6/5 in the tie-break. After the third seeds let that championship point slip, however, Schwartzman raised his game at the perfect moment. The Argentine found a pair of inspired forehand winners to force a Match Tie-break as he and Isner became the only team to win a set against Mektic and Pavic across the Croatians’ back-to-back title runs.

Both teams let slip a championship match opportunity in the Match Tie-break before Mektic and Pavic found a way to rise above the tension to convert their third of the match, with their relentless solid net play helping them to a one-hour, 56-minute victory.

Isner was aiming for a third Masters 1000 of the year, having won the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells with countryman Jack Sock and the Miami Open presented by Itau with Hubert Hurkacz. For Schwartzman, the hunt for a maiden tour-level doubles crown goes on, with the Argentine now 0-5 in doubles finals.

Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina announced on social media Sunday that they are expecting their first child, a girl, in October.

“With a heart full of love and happiness, we are delighted to announce that we are expecting a baby girl in October,” they wrote.

With a heart full of love and happiness, we are delighted to announce that we are expecting a baby girl in October ❤️ pic.twitter.com/LernKW9Seq

— Gael Monfils (@Gael_Monfils) May 15, 2022

Monfils and Svitolina, stars on the ATP Tour and the Hologic WTA Tour, respectively, married last July.

Several colleagues quickly congratulated the pair, including Naomi Osaka, who commented on Monfils’ post, “Congratulations 🥳 October babies are the best lol ⭐️.”

Novak Djokovic has had a lot on the line all week at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, and nothing will change on Sunday in the Rome final against Stefanos Tsitsipas. 

The World No. 1 slipped to No. 2 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings entering the week before his quarter-final victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime moved him back to the top spot ahead of Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic then downed Casper Ruud in the semis to earn his 1,000th tour-level win and guarantee himself the top seed at Roland Garros. 

Playing in his fourth straight Rome final, and his 12th overall in the Italian capital, the Serbian now seeks a record-extending 38th ATP Masters 1000 title against Tsitsipas. The Greek is bidding for his second title of 2022 after he successfully defended his Monte Carlo crown in April.

In the doubles final, John Isner and Diego Schwartzman face third seeds and defending champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, with the American-Argentine pairing looking to become champions in their first event as a team. Isner is on the hunt for his third Masters 100 doubles title of the year with as many partners.

[1] Novak Djokovic (SER) vs. [4] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)

The most recent ATP Head2Head meeting between these two men came last year in the Roland Garros final, when Djokovic battled back from two sets down to win his 20th Grand Slam title. Just prior to that, the Serbian engineered another comeback to defeat Tsitsipas in the Rome quarter-finals. He leads the overall series 6-2, including a perfect 4-0 on clay.

Djokovic is hot on the trail of his first title of 2022 as he begins to hit top form late in the European clay season. After an early exit in Monte Carlo, he reached the final in his native Belgrade and the semis in Madrid. He has not dropped a set this week in Rome, dominating Aslan Karatsev and Stan Wawrinka before winning closer yet still comfortable contests against Felix Auger-Aliassime and Casper Ruud.

Tsitsipas survived a pair of match points against him to defeat Grigor Dimitrov in the Rome opening round and later scored a pair of comeback wins against Karen Khachanov (third round) and Alexander Zverev (semis). In between, he ended the run of home favourite Jannik Sinner in straight sets.

The Greek enters the final in scintillating form with a 14-2 record on the clay swing. He backed up his Monte Carlo title with a run to the Barcelona quarters and the Madrid semis and avenged a loss to Zverev in the Madrid with his win on Saturday. His 31 tour-level wins on the season lead the ATP Tour.

Tsitsipas is competing in his first Rome final, and enters the title match with a 9-4 record at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

“It’s one of those tournaments that I think has the most history in sport,” he said upon reaching the final. “As you can see looking around the sides, one of the most beautiful stadiums. There’s a lot of history playing on these courts and you feel very proud that you made your way here and are able to participate in such a historically rich event.”

FOLLOW THIS WEEK’S ACTION

📺 TV Schedule
🎾 Watch Live On Tennis TV
📱 Follow Live Scores On ATP Tour App
📧 Sign Up For Newsletters

Djokovic faces a quick turnaround after his evening win over Ruud, which was followed by an on-court celebration for his 1,000 wins, complete with a themed cake. He will look to extend his perfect record to 4-0 against Tsitsipas in finals.

“Another final against him at one of the biggest tournaments we have in the world,” Djokovic previewed. “He’s definitely in form. The last few years he’s been [one of the] top two, three clay-court players. In general, top two, three in the world.

“But especially on the clay court, winning Monte Carlo, always reaching the final stages of the biggest events on clay. I can expect a big battle on the court, but I’m ready for it.”

The Balance of Power and Steal & Conversion insights provide an interesting backdrop for Sunday’s match. The standout statistic from this week in Rome is Djokovic’s 42 per cent steal rate, which describes how often the Serbian wins points from defence. That could prove crucial in the final, with Tsitsipas edging the Balance of Power battle between the pair, playing 25 per cent of his shots in attack this week. Both men are above average in how often they convert points from attacking positions.

[3] Nikola Mektic (CRO) / Mate Pavic (CRO) vs. John Isner (USA) / Diego Schwartzman (ARG)

The Croatian defending champions knocked off home favourites Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini in Saturday’s semis, their straight-sets wins continuing their perfect progress this week in Rome. The third seeds have won all eight sets they played, getting pushed as far as a tie-break just once, by the Italians.

Mektic and Pavic won nine titles last season in their first campaign as a team, including three at the Masters 1000 level. They are seeking their first title of 2022 after losing a pair of Match Tie-breaks in the Dubai and Belgrade finals.

Isner teamed with Jack Sock to win Indian Wells and paired with Hubert Hurkacz for the Miami title before his Rome run with Schwartzman. The unlikely duo, dubbed #Isnerman, pairs the contrasting skills of the 6-foot-10 American and the 5-foot-7 Argentine. They survived three Match Tie-breaks to reach the final, including in the semis against Andrey Golubev and Maximo Gonzalez.