Djokovic Overcomes Rain, Fritz At Rome Masters; Nadal v Sinner Wed.

Novak Djokovic began his Rome defense in a positive manner beating Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-6(5) to advance to the third round.

About the only blip came when Djokovic failed to serve the match out in the second. Then, moments later, the rains stopped play for about three hours at 5-all. But Djokovic was able to finally close out the American in a breaker.

“It was a very strange match with strange conditions,” Djokovic said. .

“I thought that I had an advantage there because the conditions were slower which allows me to return his serves, because he’s got really big serves. So I kind of kept the match under my control for most part of the two sets, then served for the match. Very sloppy service game. He played well, made a great passing shot to come back.

“I was stressed out in the end obviously, but I think it was the right call to stop the match.

“When I came back, I thought we were quite even actually till the last point. I’m glad that I managed to finish off this match in straight sets. I know I can play better, and I’m going to work tomorrow trying to make sure I do that in two days.”

Djokovic, a 5-time Rome winner, will now meet the Alejandro Davidovich Fokina-Cameron Norrie winner on Thursday. Roberto Bautista Agut and Denis Shapovalov were also easy winners.

Madrid finalist Matteo Berrettini got back on track overcoming a slow start to beat Nikolaz Basilashvili 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Felix Auger-Aliassime kept Diego Schwartzman in the dumps, beating the Argentine 6-1, 6-3. Schwartzman made the Rome finals last fall.

“It was tricky conditions overall,” the Canadian said. “A lot of rain, heavy conditions. I think maybe it suited me better. I think he was struggling to find openings on the court. I mean, I took advantage of that. I kept going for my shot with no hesitation, stick to my game plan. I was able to do that well outside of the little bit of slump in the second when I got broken back. I missed a few easy shots.

“Outside of that, I mean, it was a complete match from my part. Even though, yes, of course, when there’s a score like this you expect one opponent to not play as good. But I’m happy with the way I handled business today.”

Reilly Opelka overpowered the young Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-4, Kei Nishikori enjoyed a walkover from Pablo Carreno Busta and Gael Monfils fell to Lorenzo Sonego.

Rain forced the postponement of the Medvedev-Karatsev and Delbonis-Goffin matches.

Tomorrow will see the return of Rafael Nadal. The 9-time champion opens play against the talented teen Jannik Sinner. The two met at the French last year and the youngster had some early chances in a straight set loss late at night.

“If you talk about a player who is very young and he’s improving every day for sure,” Nadal said of Sinner. “And he’s in a moment that he’s ascending in the ranking, he’s confident, he played a great tournament in Miami, is normal is going to be a very tough one. So let’s see.”

Dominic Thiem also opens play against Marton Fucsovics. Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on Marin Cilic and Alexander Zverev is back on court after his Madrid win.

WEDNESDAY ROME SCHEDULE
Center Court Starts At 10:00 Am
4 Dominic Thiem v Marton Fucsovics
Sara Sorribes Tormo v 7 Aryna Sabalenka
Not Before 2.00PM
8 Serena Williams v Nadia Podoroska
9 Matteo Berrettini v John Millman
Not Before 6:00 Pm
Jannik Sinner v 2 Rafael Nadal

Grand Stand Arena Starts At 10:00 Am
10 Roberto Bautista Agut v Cristian Garin
(WC) Gianluca Mager v Lorenzo Sonego
Aslan Karatsev v 3 Daniil Medvedev
4 Sofia Kenin v Barbora Krejcikova

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