World number one Novak Djokovic got off to a perfect winning start at the Italian Open on Wensday,advancing to the third round of the clay-court tournament in his first match after his early exit from the US Open disqualification earlier this month.
The world number one eased past his Italian wild card entry Salvatore Caruso 6-3,6-2 in what proved to be a one-way game at the Foro Italico.The four-time Rome winner Djokovic is set to square off with either fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic or Italian qualifier Marco Cecchinatofor a place in the quarter-finals slated for this weekend.
“Obviously I had an early exit (at the US Open) so had more time to prepare,”Djokovic said courtside.”I did practice for a week now and tried to play some sets coming into this ATF 1000 match.
“Caruso is a claycourt specialist and it was a great challenge today.”
Novak Djokovic was unbeaten in 2020 before his dramatic last 16 default exit from the US Open in New York on the 6th of September this month after he accidentally struck a line judge with a ball hit in frustration.
Nine-time Rome winner Rafel Nadal is set to make his return to competitive tennis after a six-month Corona Virus break.Nadal will square off with fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno for third round spot.
Belgian star David Goffin suffered an early exit after losing his second round match to Croatia’s Marin Cilic in a final tune-up for the French Open in Roland Garros slated for 27 September.
Two time Italian Open finalist and world no 2 Simona Halep eased into the Italian Open third round on the Wednesday with a straight sets win over home hope Jasmine Paolini of Italy.World no 2 Halep dismantled 99th ranked Paolini 6-3,6-4.
Swiss sixth seed Belinda Bencic fell 6-3,6-1 second round match to Montenegro’s 86th ranked Danka Kovinic.