On Sunday, it will be the 57th installment of the most prolific men’s rivalry of the Open Era, as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal play for the men’s championship. Djokovic is going for his record-extending 37th Masters 1000 title, and his sixth in Rome, while Nadal is looking to tie Djokovic with 36 Masters titles by winning Rome for the 10th time. After playing for nearly five hours on Saturday, what will Djokovic have left in the championship match?
In women’s singles, Karolina Pliskova has reached her third consecutive final in Rome. She’ll face the reigning Roland Garros champion, Iga Swiatek, who is making her WTA 1000 final debut. In men’s doubles, Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic are one match away from an astounding sixth title of the season. And in the women’s doubles, the final is yet to be set, as one semifinal is still to be played.
Karolina Pliskova (9) vs. Iga Swiatek (15) – Not before 2:30pm on Center Court
Each of these players have saved match points to reach this championship match: Pliskova against Ostapenko, and Swiatek against Barbora Krejcikova. Outside of the match against Krejcikova, Swiatek has not dropped a set this week. But unlike Pliskova, Swiatek had to play both her quarterfinal and semifinal on Saturday, spending almost twice as long on court.
Iga has now claimed 14 of her last 15 matches on clay, with her only loss coming at the hands of world No.1 Ash Barty. Meanwhile, Karolina hasn’t reached a final or semifinal at any event held outside of Rome since January of last year. As much as Pliskova has excelled the last three years in Italy, Swiatek’s recent form makes her the favorite in their first career meeting. Iga’s more versatile game, and more positive attitude, give her a distinct advantage.
Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Rafael Nadal (2) – Not before 5:00pm on Center Court
Djokovic leads their overall head-to-head 29-27, but Nadal leads 18-7 on clay, and 5-3 in Rome. This is their first match since last year’s Roland Garros final, which went decisively to Nadal in straight sets. On clay, Rafa has now taken their last four encounters, with Novak’s last victory on this surface coming in the final of this event five years ago.
After saving match points and surviving an epic clash with Denis Shapovalov on Thursday, Nadal has won his last four sets by scores of 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. That includes a straight-set victory over Sascha Zverev, who defeated him just a week prior in Madrid. Following a few subpar performances this clay court season, Rafa appears to have found his top level, just in time for Roland Garros. This is a familiar pattern for Nadal, and a big problem for Djokovic, who will certainly be playing on tired legs. Neither of these men have been a Masters champion this year, but that will change on Sunday, and it will likely be Nadal.
Other Notable Matches on Sunday:
Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic (2) vs. Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury (5) – Mektic and Pavic are a sensational 36-4 in their first season as a team. Ram and Salisbury won last year’s Australian Open, but lost to Mektic and Pavic earlier this year in Miami.
Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara (4) vs. Sharon Fichman and Giuliana Olmos – the winners of this semifinal will face Kristina Mladenovic and Marketa Vondrousova in the championship match later in the day.
Sunday’s full Order of Play is here.
