Just days before the start of the 2011 French Open, No. 2 Novak Djokovic defeated No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4 in the Italian Open final on Sunday afternoon. This was a rematch of their 2009 Italian Open final, which Nadal captured 7-6 (2), 6-2. But Djokovic turned the tables in Rome, scoring his fourth straight finals win over Nadal in 2011.
Novak Djokovic Defeats Rafael Nadal For 2011 Italian Open Title
Djokovic had previously beaten Nadal in the BNP Paribas Open, the Sony Ericsson Open and, just last week, the Madrid Open.
Djokovic has won 37 straight matches to start 2011 and 39 overall, including his Davis Cup matches from Dec. 2010. John McEnroe holds the men’s record for consecutive wins to start a season with a 42-0 start in 1984.
In the women’s final, Maria Sharapova, who defeated No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals, sent Sam Stosur to defeat, 6-2, 6-4. This should set her up for a strong run at the French Open.
Neither Djokovic nor Sharapova have won a French Open title yet.
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