(UTV|COLOMBO) – Rafael Nadal survived a stunning fightback from Alexander Zverev to win a record eighth Italian Open, the BBC Sport reported.
Nadal cruised to the first set before defending champion Zverev won nine of the next 11 games to take the second set 6-1 and lead 3-1 in the decider.
But the Spaniard turned the match around following a lengthy rain delay and closed out a 6-1 1-6 6-3 victory.
The win will see Nadal regain the world number one ranking before the French Open which starts next Sunday.
Roger Federer had regained top spot in the rankings when Nadal lost to Dominic Thiem at the Madrid Masters last week, his only defeat on clay this season.
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.
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