Rafael Nadal hits a forehand to Novak Djokovic on Sunday in Rome, Italy. Photo: VCG

Rafael Nadal defeated world No.1 Novak Djokovic to win a 10th Italian Open title on Sunday while fellow French Open champion Iga Swiatek whitewashed Karolina Pliskova in just 45 minutes to claim the women's tournament.

Second seed Nadal won through 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 in two hours 49 minutes against the defending champion to match Djokovic's ­record of 36 Masters 1000 titles and lay down a key marker two weeks out from the defence of his Roland Garros crown.

"I really wanted this title. This had been one of the first important titles I won in my career. I'd won 10 in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Roland Garros and really wanted this one too," said 34-year-old Nadal.

Polish teenager Swiatek crushed Czech ninth seed Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-0 to win her first Masters 1000 trophy on the red clay at the Foro Italico.

"I'm overwhelmed, at the beginning of this tournament I would not have dreamed of winning it," said an emotional Swiatek, who will break into the top 10 as a result of her run in Rome.

"When I was playing I didn't even know what was the score," admitted the 19-year-old. 

"When my coach told me it was 6-0, 6-0, I was, like, Really? Isn't that a mistake?" 

Djokovic and Nadal were facing each other for the 57th time, having last played in the 2020 French Open final which the Spaniard won easily in straight sets.

The pair have won 15 of the last 17 Rome titles between them, while Nadal leads their head-to-head in finals in the Italian capital 4-2.

"I'm disappointed not to win, but pleased with my level," said five-time Rome winner Djokovic, who leads their overall head-to-head 29-28. 

"Going into Paris it's a good sensation. I feel like I want to feel on clay."

The French Open gets underway in Paris on May 30 where 13-time champion Nadal will be chasing a record 21st Grand Slam title.

Djokovic, the 2016 champion at Roland Garros, will be hoping to become the first man in over half a century and just the third in history to win all four majors more than once.

Earlier Swiatek, ranked 15th, claimed her third WTA title after a win in Adelaide in January.

She swept through the first set in just 20 minutes, allowing Pliskova four points, dropping just 13 in total throughout the match.

Pliskova tried to fight back in the third game of the second set, holding a double break to win the third game, but the Polish player ruthlessly snuffed out any return.

"From the beginning I felt that she may be a little bit nervous, and I wanted to use that and actually play as many games with that vibe as I can," said Swiatek. "I will just quickly forget about today," said Pliskova, the world number nine, who was playing in her third consecutive Rome final.