Nadal tops Zverev for Rome title, will return to No. 1 in the world | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Thursday / March 28.
  • Nadal tops Zverev for Rome title, will return to No. 1 in the world

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    By ADAM ZAGORIA

    Rafael Nadal is back to No. 1 in the world.

    With his 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev, Nadal won his eighth career title in Rome and ensured he will return to No. 1 in the world on Monday.

    Roger Federer, who is skipping the clay court season, became No. 1 last week after Nadal lost to Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals in Madrid. Zverev then topped Thiem in the final.

    Nadal overcame a 1-3 deficit in the final set for his first title in Rome since 2013. After a rain delay at 2-3, Nadal won four straight games to close the match. On match point on his serve, Nadal won on a backhand volley that Zverev could not retrieve.

    The loss snapped a 13-match winning streak for the 21-year-old Zverev, who has beaten Federer and Novak Djokovic but remains winless in five matches against Nadal.

    After Rome, Nadal will seek his 11th Roland Garros title at the tournament beginning May 27.

    If Nadal wins again in Paris he and Federer will have split the last six Grand Slam titles since 2017.

    Photo: Jose Morgado

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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