Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev LIVE: Italian Open final latest score and highlights

Rafael Nadal faces Alexander Zverev in the Italian Open final today.

Nadal is hoping to win the Italian Open for the first time since 2013.

He dumped Novak Djokovic out of the competition at the semi-final stage on Saturday.

But Nadal faces defending champions Zverev, who has impressed in this tournament as he prepares for his assault on Roland Garros.

The match is scheduled to start at 3pm BST and you can follow every shot live with Express Sport below…

RAFAEL NADAL VS ALEXANDER ZVEREV

[*denotes server]

*Nadal 6-1 Zverev

And that’s the set. From being stunned in his opening service game to obliterating his opponent, Nadal has come back with a bang here. The lesson from Zverev: if you’re going to provoke Nadal’s ire you better be ready for it!

Nadal 5-1 Zverev* – BREAK

Some mouthwatering tennis from Nadal keeps him in the game at 40-15. He forces deuce and Zverev then hits wide. A break point for Nadal is… won! He comes to the net and slams home a winner after a Zverev net cord. BREAK!

*Nadal 4-1 Zverev

Some wonderful net play from both men ends when Zverev goes for the space and hits long. That’s a hold to 15 for Nadal. He looks comfortable out there.

Nadal 3-1 Zverev* – BREAK

A pincer forehand winner earns Nadal another break. He’s stunned Zverev from nowhere here.

*Nadal 2-1 Zverev

Boom! Eight straight points for Nadal. He defends his service game to love. What a freak opening to this match.

Nadal 1-1 Zverev* – BREAK

How does Nadal respond? By charging to 0-40 up that’s how. He attacks the Zverev serve and gets his reward. Zverev goes for a dropshot, which Nadal meets with one of his own and the German cannot reach it. BREAK!

*Nadal 0-1 Zverev – BREAK

You’re in a match here Rafa! Zverev races into a 0-40 lead on Nadal’s serve. Nadal pulls two points back but then goes long in the first major rally of the match. BREAK!

15:05: The players are out on course and warming up. It’s a lovely 25c out there today. Perfect conditions for clay tennis.

World No 1

Rafael Nadal can become the world No 1 if he win the Italian Open today.

Nadal would overtake Roger Federer at the top of the ATP pecking order.

On the prospect of returning to the top, he said: “for me the main thing is win in Rome.

“Not come back to No 1, no. My motivation for tomorrow, if I tell you my real feelings before coming here, I came here to try to win a very important title, like Rome.

“Not to try to come back to No 1. That’s my feelings, of course.

“If I am back to No 1, it’s great. Better than to be No 2, it’s true.

“But my motivation is win a title, and I am playing for this today.”

Zverev the underdog

Alexander Zverev has conceded he is the underdog heading into this final today.

“There’s not much you need to say about him,” Zverev told ATP World Tour.

“He’s won the French Open ten times and I’m definitely not the favourite.

“Hopefully I’ll be ready for it, I’ll do everything I can to recover.”

Nadal vs Zverev head to head

Rafael Nadal boasts a 3-0 career record against Alexander Zverev.

That includes one clash on clay during the last-16 of the 2017 Monte Carlo Masters.

Nadal won that match 6-1 6-1 but Zverev can take solace in the knowledge he has taken sets off Nadal on hard in their other two matches.

Still, this could be a tough ask for world No 4 Zverev, who at 21 is a decade Nadal’s junior.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev today.

Nadal is the heavy favourite heading into this Italian Open final.

But the Spaniard is up against the defending champion in Zverev, who continues to prove a dogged clay-court player.

This promises to be an entertaining clash and you can follow it all live right here with Express Sport.