UPDATE 2-Tennis-Nadal defeats Djokovic for record Rome win

* Nadal beats Djokovic to claim record fourth Rome title

* Djokovic to lose number three ranking to Murray

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By Paul Virgo

ROME, May 3 (Reuters) - World number one Rafael Nadal overcame stubborn early resistance from defending champion Novak Djokovic to claim a record fourth Rome Masters title with a 7-6 6-2 win on Sunday.

The Spaniard took the first set in a tiebreak before breaking the Serbian third seed twice in the second set to bag his fifth title of the year, his third on clay, and continue his dominance.

"(It's) one of the most important (wins) of my career," Nadal, who will be gunning for a fifth successive French Open title later this month, told a news conference.

"Winning in Rome is a big title. I now have 15 Masters Series in my career, so that's a lot, and I'm very happy for that."