Out of nowhere, Novak Djokovic is one step away from catching his first ATP title since January and the first big ATP event since 2016 Cincinnati. There has been a lot of talks lately regarding his bad shape and his decision to start over by parting ways with the entire coaching staff. Being beaten last week in Madrid by a revived Rafael Nadal seemed like just another episode of his struggle and lack of success.
Entering the Masters 1000 event in Rome, Djokovic saw his road approaching the French Open where he is the defending champion having a huge load of points to keep under his belt.
None of those seems to matter now as he did it to Rome's final being so dominant. Novak's revival might be just what the men's tennis needed just before the French Open.
Del Potro and Dominic Thiem had no response
With Nadal out of the picture for the higher stages in Rome, Djokovic saw his path getting brighter. In the quarterfinals, he got past Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets 6-1 6-4 at the end of a match that was resumed the next day after a rain delay.
Yesterday afternoon, the Serb completed the task against the Argentine setting a clash with Dominic Thiem for the night session. Beating Nadal in straight sets was the best thing of the season for the young Austrian star, but it also took most of his strength out.
Under these circumstances, Djokovic dismantled Thiem piece by piece. In the end, it was 6-1 6-0 for the 29-year-old Serb who will play his 8th final at Foro Italico. Last year, Djokovic was a runner-up in Rome losing to Andy Murray in the final.
Up next, the Serb will play the young tennis star Alexander Zverev who got past the big American server John Isner.
Ranked 17th in the world, Zverev got through his first Masters 1000 final, a compelling result for the 20-year-old who might become a dominant player over the next years. Djokovic and the young German never met on an ATP level event, so that gives another reason to have an intriguing final later today.
Djokovic might be the only one able to stop Nadal in Paris
With only a week left until its start, the 2017 French Open will be the ultimate clay court challenge of the season. With Nadal holding three consecutive titles on this surface things seems to work quite well for the Spaniard.
If he wins in Rome, Djokovic will settle in well for Paris, and he might be the only one able to match his tennis to that of Nadal. Moreover, as a defending champion, the Serb might wanna keep an eye on his ranking. If Nadal catches his 10th Roland Garros, Djokovic will lose the second spot in the ranking.
