Djokovic defeats Tsitsipas to capture 38th Masters 1000 title of career in Rome

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic captured the record-extending 38th Masters 1000 title of his career on Sunday, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of Rome, 6-0, 7-6 (5).

He was already one ahead of Rafael Nadal for the record for most career Masters 1000 titles, and he’s now two ahead of the Spaniard.

MOST CAREER MASTERS 1000 TITLES (since 1990):
38: Novak Djokovic
36: Rafael Nadal
28: Roger Federer
17: Andre Agassi
14: Andy Murray

Rome has always been a happy hunting ground for Djokovic. Not only is this the sixth time he’s won in the Italian capital—2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2022—but he’s also reached another six finals, one more semifinal and three more quarterfinals. He’s actually never lost before the quarterfinals in his 16 career appearances at the event.

Rome is the sixth tour-level event that Djokovic has won six or more times.

TOURNAMENTS DJOKOVIC HAS WON 6+ TIMES (tour-level):
9: Australian Open (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021)
6: Wimbledon (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021)
6: Miami (2007, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016)
6: Paris (2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021)
6: Beijing (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
6: Rome (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2022)

Djokovic’s 38th Masters 1000 title was also his 87th overall ATP title.

After Djokovic stormed through the first set of Sunday’s final in just 30 minutes, Tsitsipas got on the board with a hold in the opening game of the second set—the Greek started picking up more and more steam from there and eventually found himself up 5-2 in the second set, and on the verge of pushing it to a third.

But Djokovic clawed his way back to 5-all and took a competitive tie-break to close it out in straight sets after an hour and 36 minutes on court.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion finished the match with 24 winners to 14 unforced errors, with his forehand particularly dangerous—he finished with 13 winners to just 5 unforced errors on that side. He converted four of six break points.

“I pleasantly surprised myself, I can say, even though I had a clear game plan and strategy coming into the match,” Djokovic said of his fast start in the first set.

“After that it was a little bit tight at the beginning of the second, and he used it, and at this level one or two points can turn a match around, and he was back in it.

“I somehow managed to find the right shots at the right time in the second set and came back in the game, and in the tie-breaker I guess I was just an inch better, maybe calmer. But it was a tight, tight tie-break from both of us, certainly.”