Alcaraz Wins In Rome Masters Debut, Rublev Advances; Djokovic, Sinner Sunday

Carlos Alcaraz made a strong Rome Masters debut cruising past countryman Albert Ramos Vinolas 6-4, 6-1.

The 20-year-old Alcaraz fell behind a quick break to start the match before rolling, breaking the veteran four times.

“It wasn’t easy. The first round of every tournament is really tough and of course Albert Ramos, especially on clay, is a really tough opponent,” Alcaraz told the ATP. “I had to adapt my game really quickly to be able to get though. The conditions weren’t easy as well, the rain, the waiting all day. I didn’t know if I was going to play or not. But I’m really happy with my performance at the end and really happy to be able to play in the next round.”

Alcaraz wins his 12th straight match. He’s now 30-2 on the season and the win means he’ll be No. 1 on the Monday after the tournament, and likely earn the top seed at the French Open.

Sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev got over on the tricky Alex Molcan 6-3, 6-4. Rublev lost just six points on first serve and never faced a break point in the commanding win.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Lorenzo Musetti and Taylor Fritz were among those who never got on the court or didn’t finish.

Hubert Hurkacz did and probably wished he didn’t as he went out to the American J.J. Wolf 6-3, 6-4. Roberto Carballes Baena surprised the 20th-seeded Daniel Evans in a thriller 7-6(7-5), 5-7, 6-4. Lorenzo Sonego of Italy bounced No. 25 Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 and the 31st-seeded Bernabe Zapata Miralles topped Jason Kubler of Australia 6-4, 6-1.

Ahead tomorrow in third round play No. 1 Novak Djokovic tests No. 26 Grigor Dimitrov. Djokovic leads 10-1 in their tour-level clashes including a win at the Australian.

No. 4 Casper Ruud tests Alexander Bublik and No. 8 Jannik Sinner gets Alexander Shevchenko.

Still in the second round. No. 3 Daniil Medvedev draws Emil Ruusuvuori. No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas will bid to finish off Nuno Borges and No. 7 Holger Rune tests Fabio Fognini.

Also, No. 19 Alexander Zverev will meet David Goffin.

SUNDAY ROME MASTERS SCHEDULE
CENTER COURT
Starting At: 11:00 am
WTA Karolina Muchova (CZE) vs Camila Giorgi (ITA)
WTA Iga Swiatek (POL) [1] vs Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)
ATP Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB) [1] vs Grigor DIMITROV (BUL) [26]

Not Before 7:00 PM
WTA Anna Kalinskaya vs Elena Rybakina (KAZ) [7]
Not Before 8:30 pm
ATP [LL] Alexander SHEVCHENKO vs Jannik SINNER (ITA) [8]

GRAND STAND ARENA
Starting At: 11:00 am
ATP Roberto BAUTISTA AGUT (ESP) [21] vs Marco CECCHINATO (ITA)
Not Before 12:30 pm
ATP [WC] Fabio FOGNINI (ITA) vs Holger RUNE (DEN) [7]
ATP Stefanos TSITSIPAS (GRE) [5] leads Nuno BORGES (POR) 6/3 4/3
Not Before 3:00 PM
WTA Victoria Azarenka [14] vs Madison Keys (USA) [19]
WTA Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) [10] vs Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) [20]
Not Before 7:00 pm
ATP David GOFFIN (BEL) vs Alexander ZVEREV (GER) [19]