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Nadal wins 8th Italian Open title, regains top spot in ranking

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rafael nadal

​Rafael Nadal emerged champion of the 2018 Italian Open after surviving a stunning fightback from Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final on Sunday.

The victory earned the Spaniard a record eighth title at the competition and takes him back to the number one spot in the ATP rankings.

Nadal cruised to the first set 6-1 before defending champion Zverev won the second set 6-1. But Nadal turned the match around and closed out a 6-1 1-6 6-3 victory.

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Roger Federer had regained top spot in the rankings when Nadal crashed out at the Madrid Open last week, but Rome triumph will see Nadal regain top spot going into the French Open which starts next Sunday.

Nadal has now won three clay-court titles from four tournaments in the lead-up to his bid for an 11th Roland Garros title in Paris.

The win is Nadal’s 78th ATP Tour title and takes him clear of John McEnroe into fourth place in the list of most men’s titles won in the Open era.

It also extends Nadal’s impressive record in Rome where he has won the title more than any other player with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic – whom he defeated in the semifinals – second on four titles.

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