Djokovic tops Nadal again

ROME (AP):

Novak Djokovic is just starting to get used to hearing his name mentioned in the same breath as the legends of the game.

The seemingly unstoppable Serb stretched his unbeaten start to the season to 37 matches yesterday, with a 6-4, 6-4 win over top-ranked Rafael Nadal in the Italian Open final.

Djokovic's streak trails only John McEnroe's 42-0 start in 1984. Overall, the 23-year-old has won 39 consecutive matches stretching back to Serbia's Davis Cup triumph in December, seven behind Guillermo Vilas' Open-era record set in 1977.

"It's an incredible honour to be a part of tennis history in some way, and part of an elite group of players - Federer, Nadal, McEnroe, (Ivan) Lendl, guys who were winning so many in a row," Djokovic said. "I don't know how much good it brings to tennis, but it's good that someone else is able to win other than just Federer and Nadal. It makes it more interesting."

seven titles

The second-ranked Djokovic has racked up seven titles already this year, and beaten Nadal in all four finals they've played this year.

Also yesterday, Maria Sharapova stormed to a 6-2, 6-4 win over Sam Stosur in the women's final, for the biggest clay-court title of her career.

After a three-hour rain delay, the seventh-seeded Sharapova won the opening four games, then cruised from there to follow up her victory over top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-finals.

Sharapova is a three-time Grand Slam winner, and Roland Garros remains the only major title she hasn't won. She'll now be among the favourites in Paris.

"This is just the beginning of many things to come. This is just the start of everything," Sharapova said during the trophy presentation.