'Saving match points vs. Shapovalov gave Rafael Nadal...', says former star

• Tennis News
• Rafael Nadal

After a beautiful and exciting final, the king of clay courts Rafael Nadal beat his long-time rival Novak Djokovic and yesterday won his 'Tenth' victory at the Internazionali d'Italia in Rome. The two had a very hard-fought match full of great shots and in the end the Majorcan triumphed in three tough sets.

At the end of the match Rafa told his impressions and talked about the various positive aspects achieved this week, a further step towards his seasonal goal, namely Roland Garros, a tournament that could lead him to be the only man in history with 21 Grand Slam titles.

Here are the words of the twenty-time Grand Slam winner at the press conference: "It's incredible to have won the trophy again here in Rome. It's number 10, I really wanted this 10th title here, I remember it was one of the first important titles.

that I have won in my career. After 10 at Roland Garros, 10 in Monte Carlo and 10 in Barcelona, ​​I wanted to reach this milestone here too and for me it is a very important tournament. It has been a tough week, I have been through a lot and there have been some positive moments and others less so.

I think I've played a very solid week of tennis and I'm happy. In the last few weeks I think I have made some progress with my forehand, I have found better solutions than in the past and this is essential to improve my game.

Then it is important to have improved my serve which gives me more confidence, I have had a fantastic week and I feel good. I am a bit tired but it was a fantastic win. The collapse in the second set? In these races, everything happens, I was playing against one of the best and it is normal to suffer at some point, I did not convert my chances at the beginning of the set and then I played very badly, I was against the wind and I lost concentration a bit.

In the third set I returned to the standards of the first and managed to save the challenge. This week I have improved a lot, but now I have to maintain this progress and then I will feel more confident and confident."

Roddick opens up on Rafael Nadal

Former pros Jim Courier and Andy Roddick recently gave their thoughts on Rafael Nadal's Italian Open triumph.

Courier claimed that Nadal's 10th title at the Foro Italico was a 'statement win' given how he fought through some tough matches, while Roddick reiterated how privileged he considers himself to see Nadal and Djokovic play each other.

According to Roddick, Rafael Nadal's win over Denis Shapovalov - where he had to save match points before winning in three hard-fought sets - was the turning point for the Spaniard. "I mean Rafa found his groove this week, I thought he was a little spotty in Monte Carlo, he grinded through and got through Barcelona," Roddick said.

"And Madrid he kinda got railroaded a bit against Zverev. Saving those match points against Shapovalov gave him a chance to find his best tennis. Getting through Zverev easily, Opelka and then grinding down Novak."