Nadal: Djokovic gives the clay a battering as Spaniard wins Rome
The world number one came back from a 6-0 first set to level the match but took out his frustration on the clay after Nadal broke in the third.
There isn't much in tennis that can be more frustrating than playing Rafa Nadal on clay.
World number one Novak Djokovic, winner of the last three Grand Slams and aiming to hold all four simulatanously when Roland Garros starts later this month, suffered a 6-0 drubbing in the first set in Rome but pulled level in the second to the delight of the crowd.
However, at the beginning of the third he was unable to prevent Nadal breaking to open up a 2-0 lead and did what anyone would do when faced with the greatest clay court player of all time.