British second seed Andy Murray won his first Italian Open title with an impressive 6-3 6-3 victory over top seed Novak Djokovic on Sunday in Rome.
It was the second consecutive Masters final between both men after Djokovic got the better of the Scotsman in the Madrid Open final a week ago.
The straight sets victory was Murray’s first against the Serbian world no 1 in five attempts on clay court, as both men head into the French Open later this month in fine form.
Murray, who celebrates his 29th birthday today, broke serve once in the first set and twice in the second to emerge victorious in one hour and 35 minutes.
“Well done Andy…you were just too good,”, Djokovic said after the game.
Murray will take over the world number two ranking from Roger Federer ahead of the French Open, which begins on 22nd May.
Earlier, Serena Williams defeated fellow American Madison Keys in straight sets to win her fourth Rome title, and first trophy in nine months.
The 34-year-old Williams became only the fifth player to win 70 WTA titles, as she joins an elite club that includes Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Margaret Court.
