Italian Open: Rafael Nadal Set Up Final Against Novak Djokovic

 

Rafael Nadal has set up Internazionali BNL d'Italia's final match against Novak Djokovic having eliminated Reilly Opelka in the semi-final. He will be vying for his tenth title on his 13th appearance in the final at the tournament. 

Opelka stood no chance against Nadal who swept through two sets 6-4 6-4 to win the round, but it was a different situation for Djokovic to rallied back against Lorenzo Sonego after dropping the second set and outlasted the Italian in a three-setter 6-3 6-7(5) 6-2. 

The Spaniard has maintained a clean sheet of 12-0 playing in the semi-final of the tournament where both he and the world number one have had five head-to-head meetings in the final. Winning the title will equate his Masters 1000 title wins with Djokovic as both will be a record of 36 Masters 1000 title apiece. 

"It is not an easy, beautiful match to play, and a player like Reilly [you might not have] that rhythm," said Nadal who commended his opponent's "aggressive" style of playing.