Novak Djokovic enters Italian Open 3rd round

ROME: Still attempting to get his nearly unbeatable form back following his time away from the tour, Novak Djokovic took another step in the right direction with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Aslan Karatsev in his opening match at the Italian Open on Tuesday.

The top-ranked Djokovic, who is bidding for a sixth Rome title, showed off some vintage scrambling abilities late in the first set when he ran down one shot near the net post then sprinted back across the net to dig out a low backhand volley winner.

It was the type of point that Djokovic pulled off day after day last year when he came within one match of completing a calendar-year Grand Slam — sweeping all four major titles in the same year.

Also on the red clay courts of the Foro Italico, big-serving John Isner eliminated Miami Open semifinalist Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 6-3 and will next face 10-time Rome champion Rafael Nadal.

Diego Schwartzman, a finalist in Rome two years ago, saved two match points before eliminating Miomir Kecmanovic 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (3).

Grigor Dimitrov produced impressive performance on the European clay as he overcame American Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 6-4.

Ninth seed Cameron Norrie defeated 18-year-old Italian Luca Nardi with a 6-4, 6-4 win on Grand Stand Arena to reach the second round in Rome for a third time. Estoril champion Sebastian Baez extended his winning streak to six with a 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-2 win over Tallon Griekspoor. David Goffin beat Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (8), 7-6(2) while Cristian Garín beat Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 6-4.

In the women's tournament, Madrid finalist Jessica Pegula enjoyed a winning start to her campaign, squeezing past world number 25 Liudmila Samsonova 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the second round.

Former French Open champion and number 11 seed Jelena Ostapenko was sent packing by American qualifier Lauren Davis 6-2, 6-3 in just one hour and 10 minutes. Ekaterina Alexandrova stunned Sloane Stephens 6-1, 6-2, Elena Rybakina beat Elina Avanesyan 6-4, 7-6 (0), Madison Brengle beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3, Jil Teichmann beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-3, Amanda Anisimova beat Tereza Martincová 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 while Ajla Tomljanovic got walkover against Camila Giorgi and Bianca Andreescu got walkover against 10th seed Emma Raducanu while leading 6-2, 2-1 in other Round 64 matches on Tuesday. Agencies

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