ANDREW DAMPF
AP Sports Writer
ROME (AP) — Novak Djokovic extended his recent dominance over Rafael Nadal by rallying for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory Sunday to win the Italian Open for the third time.
Having also been beaten in Monte Carlo and Barcelona recently, it marked the first time in a decade that the top-ranked Nadal has lost more than two matches on clay in the same year.
The second-ranked Djokovic has now won four straight matches against Nadal — the previous three in straight sets — and takes the psychological edge into the French Open, which starts next weekend.
In the women’s final, Serena Williams kept the crowd from being a factor in a 6-3, 6-0 victory over 10th-seeded home favorite Sara Errani to win her third Rome title.
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