Djokovic back in Rome final vs. rising Zverev

ROME >> Novak Djokovic won twice on Saturday to play for another Italian Open title, his first final since January.

Djokovic, the four-time champion, will play Alexander “Sascha” Zverev, the youngest Masters Series finalist at 20 since Djokovic won Miami a decade ago at 19.

The day could have dragged on for Djokovic, but he closed out Juan Martin del Potro quickly 6-1, 6-4 in their quarterfinal suspended overnight because of rain. He resumed 6-1, 1-2 up. Then about seven hours later he dispatched in the semifinals Dominic Thiem of Austria 6-1, 6-0.

Thiem, coming off the Madrid final last weekend, stopped Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Djokovic won the Doha title in January but has struggled since then and dropped his coach and support staff.

He’s reached his eighth final in Rome, where he won in 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2015.

Djokovic called it his “best performance of this year and maybe even longer.” “I’m overjoyed and happy with every minute that I spent on the court today,” Djokovic said.

Zverev beat American veteran John Isner 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 with tennis greats Rod Laver and Manolo Santana looking on at the Foro Italico. Zverev showed off an all-court game that has prompted many experts to predict he’ll reach No. 1 some day.

“If (Zverev) does win, it would be a very cool story for tennis,” Isner said. “He was gifted with a lot of ability. But he doesn’t let it go to waste at all. I have seen it in the offseason, as well. That’s what it takes to be incredibly good and one of the greats.”

On the women’s side, fourth-ranked Simona Halep advanced to the final and extended her clay-court winning streak to 10 matches by beating Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 7-5, 6-1.

Halep will face 11th-ranked Elina Svitolina of Ukraine for the trophy after French Open champion Garbine Muguruza retired due to a neck injury after only 20 minutes. Svitolina led 4-1.