Rafael Nadal: Alexander Zverev opens up on Italian Open final chances
ITALIAN OPEN defending champion Alexander Zverev has admitted he won’t be the favourite when he faces Rafael Nadal in today’s final.
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Zverev beat Marin Cilic 7-6 7-5 in yesterday’s semi-final while Nadal beat Novak Djokovic.
It means Spaniard Nadal is in his 10th Rome final while Zverev is looking for back-to-back titles in the Italian capital.
Rafael Nadal is arguably the greatest ever clay-court player and recently set a record of winning 50 consecutive sets on the red dirt.
He has also won ten French Opens and Zverev knows the 31-year-old will be favourite to win his eighth Italian Open.
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“There’s not much you need to say about him,” Zverev told ATP World Tour.
“He’s won the French Open ten times and I’m definitely not the favourite.
“Hopefully I’ll be ready for it, I’ll do everything I can to recover."
Nadal is looking to keep building ahead of the French Open which begins later this month.
He goes into Roland Garros as reigning champion and will be favourite to lift the trophy again.
And Nadal was happy with his performance on Saturday having beat Djokovic 7-6 6-3.
The world No 2 said: “This victory today is a good confidence for me and this tournament has been very important to me after losing last week in Madrid.
“I know Madrid is very special conditions with high altitude and the feeling is completely different to normal clay but being able to come back to the final this week is great news so very happy.”
Nadal vs Zverev head to head
Rafael Nadal boasts a 3-0 career record against Alexander Zverev.
That includes one clash on clay during the last-16 of the 2017 Monte Carlo Masters.
Nadal won that match 6-1 6-1 but Zverev can take solace in the knowledge he has taken sets off Nadal on hard in their other two matches.
Still, this could be a tough ask for world No 4 Zverev, who at 21 is a decade Nadal’s junior.