Novak Djokovic defeats Roger Federer to win Italian Open

Djokovic after winning the Rome Masters

Rome, May 18 (IANS/EFE)

Serbian world No.1 Novak Djokovic rolled to a 6-4, 6-3 win on Sunday over Swiss world No.2 in the Italian Open final. Djokovic, who has now won four titles in Rome, took just 75 minutes to defeat Federer.

The 27-year-old, Djokovic, is on an incredible run this year, winning the Australian Open in January and four ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles.

Djokovic added the title in Rome to his earlier victories at the Masters events in Indian Wells, California, Miami and Monte Carlo. His record so far in 2015 is a remarkable 35-2.

Djokovic closing in on Nadal

The Serbian has now won 24 Masters 1000 titles, leaving him just three short of Spain's Rafael Nadal.

Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, has never won the title in Rome, coming up short in the finals against Spain's Felix Mantilla in 2003 and losing to Spanish star Rafael Nadal in 2006 and 2103.

Djokovic is hoping that his success on clay this season will lead to his first-ever championship at the French Open, which gets underway on May 24.?