World No. 1 and defending champion Serbia’s Novak Djokovic started this Friday on clay at the Masters 1000 in Rome, beating Argentina’s Tomás Echeverry (61st) 7-6 in the second round. (7/5) won. And 6-2.
With just over two weeks to go until Roland Garros (May 28-June 11), Djokovic, who is playing with protection around his right elbow, has been off the slopes for three weeks and still finds his way. All doubts about fitness have not been dispelled. Lost in the quarterfinals of the Banja Luka tournament.
Despite a balanced first set, the six-time Foro Italico champion was able to win in two sets under the watchful eye of Portuguese football coach Jose Mourinho at Roma. , clearly dominated in the decisive second set.stand
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Djokovic still holds the top spot in the final standings, but is preparing to relinquish the crown. Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (second) is guaranteed to be ousted from first place just by appearing in Saturday’s match against his compatriot Albert Ramos.
In the third round, Djokovic will face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov (33rd), who beat Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).
In addition to Echeverry, two other Argentinian players will be competing in Rome this Friday, but with mixed luck.
Sebastian Baez (40th) was also eliminated by Russia’s Alexander Shevchenko (93rd), 6-3, 6-4, but Francisco Cerundro (31st) beat China’s Ivin 4-6, 6-4. 2, 6-3 come-from-behind victory. .
Cerndolo will face Frenchman Gregoire Barrère (63rd) in the next stage of the tournament, who beat Russia’s Karen Khachanov (11th) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4). ) and surprised him.
Christian Garin of Chile (79th) defeated American Tommy Paul (17th) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to continue his lead in the tournament. The opponent in the third round will be Laszlo Jele (62nd) of Serbia.
Rome Masters 1000
Men’s singles second round:
Novak Djokovic (SRB/N.1) beat Thomas Echeverry (ARG) 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL/N.26) def. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-4, 7-6 (7/3)
Marton Husovich (HUN) def. Alex De Minaur (AUS/N.17) 6-3, 6-4
Cameron Norrie (GB/N.13) def. Alexandre Muller (France) 6-2, 6-3
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) def. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN/N.10) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
Roman Safiuline (Russia) vs. Sebastian Korda (USA/N.22) 6-2, 7-6 (7/5)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs Miomir Kekmanovic (SRB/N.30) 6-3, 7-6 (8/6)
Holger Loon (DEN/N.7) def. Arthur Fiss (FRA) 6-3, 6-3
Casper Ruud (NOR/N.4) def. Arthur Lindarkneck (France) 6-4, 6-0
Alexander Bublik (KAZ) def. Ben Shelton (USA/N.28) 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
Laszlo Géret (SRB) def. Botic van de Sandschulp (NED/N.23) 6-2, 6-4
Christian Garin (CHI) vs. Tommy Paul (USA/N.16) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Gregoire Valere (France) def. Karen Khachanov (Russia/N.11) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)
Francisco Cerundro (ARG/N.24) def. Evin Woo (CHN) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Alexander Shevchenko (Russia) def. Sebastian Baez (ARG) 6-3, 6-4
Janik Sinner (ITA/N.8) def. Tanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 6-1, 6-4
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