Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic took a break in their rivalry for a year after Madrid 2017. Two great rivals met again in the 2018 Rome semi-final, and Rafa scored a 7-6, 6-3 victory in an hour and 56 minutes, beating Novak for the second time in a row for the first time since 2013!

Thus, the Spaniard remained unbeaten in the Rome Masters semi-finals, entering his tenth title clash at Foro Italico, the first in five years. Novak played his best tournament of the season and announced his comeback following an elbow injury that ruined his progress.

He fought well against Rafa and kept him on the court for almost two hours before falling in straight sets. Nadal won eight points more than Djokovic, defending two out of three break points and stealing the rival's serve three times from five opportunities.

The Spaniard had 22 winners and 14 unforced errors, and the Serb followed those numbers with 26 winners and 20 mistakes.

Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2018 Rome Masters semi-final.

He stayed toe to toe with his great rival in the shortest and mid-range rallies but fell short in the most extended exchanges, where Nadal earned his victory.

Rafa saved two break points in the encounter's opening game to avoid an early setback. They both served well until game six when Nadal scored a break, overpowering Djokovic in a long rally to move 4-2 ahead. Rafa served for the opener at 5-3 and played a loose service game to drop serve in the worst moment.

Novak held at 30 in game ten to lock the result at 5-5 and extend the drama, motivated after rattling off three straight games. The set reached a tie break, and Rafa earned five mini-breaks to take it 7-4 following a backhand return winner that gave him a massive boost after 71 minutes of grueling tennis.

The second set was more fluid, and Nadal controlled everything in his games. The Spaniard dropped just five points in four service games and kept the pressure on the Serb. Novak could not deal with it. He got broken at love in game three when his volley landed long, giving Nadal a considerable lead and confidence in such a close encounter.

That was the only poor service game on either side in the first seven games, and Rafa had to work harder in game eight. He held after three deuces to move 5-3 ahead with a forehand crosscourt winner, leaving Novak to serve to stay in the match.

The Spaniard scored another break to cross the finish line, placing a backhand down the line winner for a place in his tenth Rome Masters final. Thus, he celebrated his second straight win over Novak after losing the previous seven encounters.