Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic won his tenth career ATP title after coming from behind to beat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6 6-3 6-3 in the Rome Masters final.

Wawrinka had the better of the early exchanges and took the first set after breaking Djokovic in the fifth game.

The Serb hung in during a spell on the back foot and pulled himself back into contention with a break in the middle of the second set.

He then took Wawrinka's serve again at the start and end of the final set to bag his fourth Masters Series crown and first on clay.

"I knew he's a difficult player to play against on this surface because he's achieved his best results on it," Djokovic said.

"In the end I did what I had to do. Even though I won in three sets, I'm happy in general with my performance in this tournament."

Wawrinka made a confident start to his first Masters Series final, winning points with a backhand volley at the net and a fine forehand pass to get an early break.

Wawrinka had Djokovic under more pressure in the seventh game, when the Serb had to dig out some big serves after being two break points down, before he served out the set.

The third seed was struggling to find his best tennis, but he managed to soak up the pressure before responding with a break in the sixth game of the second set.

He held the next two service games to level things up, sealing the last two points of the set with emphatic smashes at the net.

His confidence revived, he broke again in the first game of the third set, with the help of another sweet volley at the net and some over-hit shots from the Swiss.

Djokovic kept the momentum going his way and Wawrinka had to work hard to hold serve in the seventh game of the decider, saving a break point.

But he surrendered shortly it shortly after, Djokovic producing a superb forehand to the corner to wrap up the championship.

"I was aiming for Rome and Roland Garros as my two priorities in this claycourt season. But of course Hamburg is next week, so I'll try to do my best there," he added.

"I'm very happy that I managed to win a major on this surface because now I have more confidence approaching the big events on this surface and other surfaces as well.

"This year has been like a dream for me, but I want to continue, I want to finish the year as the number one in the race."

Wawrinka said: "I started very well. In the first set I was always before him. I was pushing him," Wawrinka said.

"Of course I'm disappointed because I lost today, but I lost against the world number three".

Reuters