TENNIS:NOVAK DJOKOVIC continued his domination over world number one Rafa Nadal ahead of the French Open by claiming the Rome Masters crown 6-4 6-4 yesterday as he stretched his unbeaten run this year to 37 matches.

The Serb, who defeated Nadal for the first time on clay in the Madrid Open final last weekend, won his seventh consecutive title by flattening the five-times champion on the bigger points in another brutal duel.

After a rain-delayed start had given him a few extra hours to recover from Saturday’s draining three-hour semi-final win over Andy Murray, Djokovic broke the Nadal serve in the eighth game.

He faltered on his first attempt to serve out the set but broke Nadal again with a brilliant backhand crosscourt winner to take the set. An anxious-looking Nadal fought back from 2-0 down in a fluctuating second set before Djokovic underlined his mental toughness, forcing the Spaniard into errors to break in the ninth game.

Djokovic saw his first three match points go begging – thanks to two backhand errors from the Serb and an unreturnable serve from Nadal – but he made no mistake on the fourth.

After whipping a forehand over the net, Djokovic saw a charging Nadal roll the ball into the net and then he promptly collapsed on to his back and let out an almighty roar to celebrate his victory.

Murray’s knife-edge semi-final defeat by Djokovic has convinced the Briton that this year he has got his grand slam timing right and that the French Open and Wimbledon are both realistic targets.

Murray came within two points of ending Djokovic’s unbeaten start to the year. The world number four served for the match only for the Serb to come back and clinch a 6-1 3-6 7-6 tie-break victory.

“I could win the French if I play my best tennis and prepare mentally and physically,” said Murray, who celebrated his 24th birthday yesterday.

“I think Im playing better than ever before on clay,” he said. “I’ve got the right combination of how to play and there are a few things I can definitely do better.”

Murray had a run of desperate results following his final defeat by Djokovic at the Australian Open at the start of the year but he believes his recovery is now right on schedule.