( CNN ) -- An emotional Novak Djokovic came back from a set down to beat Rafael Nadal 4-6 , 6-3 , 6-3 in the final of the Rome Masters . Nadal had won the first set 6-4 but Djokovic , who has dedicated his victories from previous rounds to the victims of floods that have deluged both Bosnia and his homeland Serbia , fought back to clinch a memorable victory . The Rome Masters has been something of a victory procession for Nadal , the defending champion who has won the title seven times . And it looked like he would make that eight after a steady first set put the Spaniard in control . Djokovic , however , was having none of it . After breaking Nadal 's serve early in the second set Djokovic powered on to win the next two sets and his 19th career Masters title . `` He 's one of the best in the world , he 's playing great , '' Nadal said of Djokovic after the defeat . `` I played well for moments , I had my chances for moments , but I could have done with a little more energy at times . My legs did n't answer me after a tough week . '' `` I was able to find positive things during the tournament but I played three very tough matches this week and it was very hard mentally , as well as physically . I was a little bit tired . '' It is the first time in a decade that Nadal has lost three matches in a season on clay . Djokovic had endured something of a torrid time in Rome , struggling to defeat the young , big-hitting Canadian Milos Raonic in a three hour , three set epic in the semi-finals . Again Djokovic lost the first set , and again he powered back . After the match , Serbia 's most famous sportsman described how he had been keeping abreast of events back home , sent a message of support and even criticized Western media outlets for not covering the floods adequately . `` There have not been floods like this in the existence of our people , '' he said after that match , as reported by The Guardian . `` It is a total catastrophe of biblical proportions . I do n't really know how to describe it . Half the country is in danger of not having any electricity , there is total immobilization , evacuations -- and we 're talking about whole cities , not small villages . '' `` I see that on CNN , the BBC and other big networks there is a lot about the miners in Turkey , and so forth . This is another disaster , but there is no broadcast from Serbia and Bosnia , nothing about the biggest floods that we have ever seen , that maybe Europe has ever seen . This is incredible . '' Now attention turns to the French Open , which begins next week . Nadal is the reigning champion and has won eight titles in the past nine years .
Novak Djokovic storms back from a set down to win Nadal . Beat reigning champion Rome Masters in two sets . Novak Djokovic had dedicated previous victories to victims of flooding back home . Traditionally seen as a warm up for a tough week French Open .