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Italian Open: Rafael Nadal beats Alexander Zverev to win Rome title for an eighth time.

Rafael Nadal survived a stunning fightback from Alexander Zverev to win an eighth Italian Open.

Nadal cruised to the first set before defending champion Zverev won nine of the next 12 games to take the second set 6-1 and lead 3-2 in the decider.

But Nadal turned the match around following a lengthy rain delay and closed out a 6-1 1-6 6-3 victory.

The win will see Nadal regain the world number one ranking before the French Open which starts next week.

Roger Federer had regained top spot in the rankings when Nadal lost to Dominic Thiem at the Madrid Masters last week, his only defeat on clay this season.