The Scot broke his Serbian opponent once in the first set and twice in the second on his way to picking up a first win on clay against the world number one in five attempts.

Murray will return to the world number two ranking ahead of the French Open at Roland Garros, which is due to begin in a week's time. 

Djokovic, who beat Murray in last week’s Madrid Open final, was broken early in the first set and was helpless as his opponent wrapped up the opener with a superb forehand drop-shot winner.  

Murray was forced to fight back from break point down to hold serve in the second set, before fending off another two in his next service game.

A visibly frustrated Djokovic complained to the umpire Damian Steiner that rain was making the surface too dangerous but he was told to continue.

Murray went on to get the first break of the set in game five and after moving to within a game of victory, Djokovic double faulted to hand his opponent a match point that was duly converted.

Victory sees Murray become the first British player to win the tournament in Italy since 1931 and secure the third clay-court title of his career following victories in Munich and Madrid last year.

In the women’s final, Serena Williams ended a nine-month title drought with a 7-6, 6-3 win over fellow American Madison Keys.

Williams was made to work hard in the first set, coming back from 3-1 down against her 24th-ranked opponent to level the match at 3-3 before converting her first set point in the tiebreak.

The 34-year-old was relatively untroubled though in the second set and despite being broken while serving for the match at 5-2, she ended the contest in the following game to conclude the tournament without dropping a set.

Victory puts Williams level with Spain’s Conchita Martinez and Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini on four titles in Rome, one behind compatriot and women’s record holder Chris Evert with five.

Her 70th career title was a long time coming having last won in Cincinnati in August, a month before her attempt to complete a calendar-year Grand Slam ended with a semi-final loss to Italy’s Roberta Vinci at the US Open.

Williams, a 21-time Grand Slam champion, will begin the defence of her French Open title next Sunday (May 22).