Novak Djokovic dominated Roger Federer 6-4, 6-3 in 75 minutes to win his fourth career title at the Rome Masters on Sunday.
The Serb added a fifth trophy to his 2015 collection and has now won four of the five elite Masters 1000 events played so far.
It was the second triumph in a final this season for the world number one over number two Federer after Djokovic defeated the Swiss at Indian Wells in March.
Federer has now played four finals in Rome without success, but said he was glad he chose to play the pre-French Open event after a late decision.
"If you take last-minute decision and know you will make final, you would play each week," said Federer. "Still it was a good week with some good matches.
"Today 80 per cent of the match was good, I had a few unforced errors. I'm feeling good, healthy and looking forward to the French Open.
"The loss is kind of frustrating, but that's three-set tennis, you cannot get too down on yourself."
Federer lost two service games - one per set - in the space of around 10 minutes, when Djokovic broke to take the opener 6-4 and went ahead 2-0 in the second, with Federer never able to catch up.
"I had a great week," said the winner. "And I played my best match today when it counted the most. No matter what the score it's always tough playing Roger."
Djokovic moved up to 24 career Masters titles and pulled to 19-20 in his series with Federer,
In the women's draw, Maria Sharapova struggled early against Carla Suarez Navarro but survived to win her third title in Rome with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 comeback victory.
The win in just over two and a half hours for the Russian will move Sharapova back to second in the WTA rankings behind Serena Williams as the defence of her French Open title approaches in a week at Roland Garros.
Sharapova, who lifted the title at the Foro Italico in 2011 and defended it in 2012, becomes the seventh woman to win the event at least three times.
The success marked her second title of the season after Brisbane which began the season in January.
"It's always a special victory here, even if it's not my first time," said the five-time grand slam winner. "Every time I hold this trophy it brings back the first memories of winning here. "It's not easy to get a rhythm with how she plays and with the wind changing," said Sharapova. "It's good to hang (on) and and stay positive.
"I felt I was doing the right thing but shots were not going in. I kept waiting for my chances.
"I've made a lot of clay progress this season, it was not an overnight success, it took a lot of physical and mental work. It makes me happy that I've improved so much."
Spain's Suarez Navarro was bidding for her second title after winning a minor event on clay in 2014 in Portugal.
