Nadal Cruises Past Isner, Tsitsipas Wins; Djokovic v Warwinka Next

John Isner is often a danger but not today as Rafael Nadal dispatched the tall American giant with ease 6-3, 6-1 at the Rome Masters.

“I finished better than how I started, without a doubt,” said the 10-time champion Nadal. “The beginning of the match was not good for me.

“He had some chances on the return and had two break points. Two not difficult balls so I was in his hands at that moment. I was lucky that he missed those shots and then I was able to break. Then the match changed, of course. With the first set on the board, and having the break in the first game of the second, everything changed.”

Nadal will now face the lefty from Canada Denis Shapovalov who held match points against Rafa in Rome last year.

“Last year was a joke, the match that I saved here against him,” said Nadal. “Super lucky. I know how dangerous he is, I need to play well, of course. I need to play better than today, but after a while without being on court it is another victory and I have the chance again to play against one of the best players in the world.

“I need to build things again after a tough stoppage and that’s what I am trying now. I just need to stay with the right attitude, and let’s see if I am able to make that happen.”

Alexander Zverev, who won the 2017 title, held off the young Argentine Sebastian Baez 7-6(6), 6-3.

“It’s not always not easy because Madrid is at altitude and the balls are flying like crazy, but here everything is pretty slow. It wasn’t an easy match and I’m happy with the way I played at the end. He played three matches already here, it’s my first, so I’m happy with the win,” said Zverev.

Stefanos Tsitsipas was also a winner, but barely. The 2-time Monte Carlo winner needed to go the distance to defeat Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(4).

Jenson Brooksby upended David Goffin, Jannik Sinner took out Fabio Fognini in three and Marin Cilic, Karen Khachanov, Alex De Minaur and Stan Wawrinka were also winners.

In the upset of the day, former UCLA star Marcos Giron upset 2020 finalist Diego Schwartzman.

On Wednesday, Wawrinka returns to face Novak Djokovic. Zverev takes on De Minaur and Zverev collides with Khachanov.

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