Internazionali BNL d’Italia—Rome, Italy
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic continued his strong level of play this season by capturing his 36th career Masters 1000 title on Monday against Argentine, Diego Schwartzman. Winning by a score of 7-5, 6-3, Djokovic needed one hour and 54 minutes to improve to 5-0 against his diminutive opponent. Breaking serve on five occasions, Djokovic improved to 31-1 on the season by dictating a majority of the points from the baseline.
Heading into next week’s French Open in great form, Djokovic has only lost one match this year, via a default at the US Open.
Schwartzman, who was competing in his first-ever Masters 1000 final, defeated Rafael Nadal and Denis Shapovalov en-route to the finals.
Earlier in the day, former French Open winner Simona Halep won her 22nd career title when second seed Karolina Pliskova retired at the beginning of the second set. Trailing 6-0, 2-1, Pliskova Experienced a left thigh injury that forced her to retire. The 28-year-old was attempting to win her 17th career title. The hard-serving Czech defeated countrywoman Marketa Vondrousova in the semifinals.
Halep will enter next week’s French Open as one of the favourites for the title.
The French Open begins Monday in Paris, France.
