'My best shape' - Novak Djokovic says Rome title win over Stefanos Tsitsipas is perfect preparation for French Open

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic ramped up his preparations for the French Open with an impressive 6-0 7-6(5) win over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Stadio del tennis di Roma. Djokovic has won his first title in over six months as he claimed a 38th Masters 1000 title of his career with his 1001st match win.

Ad/> For Tsitsipas, it is his fifth successive defeat on clay against Djokovic in what was the Greek's first Rome final. ATP RomeDjokovic records 1000th career win against Ruud to set up Tsitsipas final in Rome20 HOURS AGO Djokovic will be the world number one for the 370th week and becomes the oldest Rome champion aged 34 years, 11 months and 23 days. He says the win over Tsitsipas has been a culmination of the hard work he has put in over recent months to prepare for the French Open, where he is bidding to win his 21st Grand Slam title.

«I pleasantly surprised myself,» Djokovic said in his on-court interview afterwards. «Even though I have a clear gameplan and strategy coming into the match I knew what was expected of me from the other side. I knew what I had to do.

»The tie-breaker I was an inch better, maybe calmer, but it was a tight tie-break for both of us certainly." /> He added: «Two days ago [against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-final] I played great. I've been building my form the last couple of weeks. »Like the previous years I knew that my best shape on the clay usually comes around Rome time.