ROME: Rafa Nadal got his claycourt season back on track with a 6-1 6-0 victory over Bosnian Damir Dzumhur to reach the third round of the Italian Open yesterday, while sixth-seed Dominic Thiem suffered an early exit.
Nadal, who lost his number world one ranking after his 14-match winning run on clay was snapped by Thiem in the Madrid Open quarter-finals last week, was back to his best as he wrapped up victory with a blistering forehand winner.
“It was important, after a loss in Madrid, to come back strong,” the 31-year-old, who received a bye in the opening round, said. “And that’s what I did today.
“I went on court with the right intensity. I don’t know how many mistakes I made, but not many. I also had control, more or less, of a high percentage of the points. That was the way that I want to play.”
The Spaniard can reclaim the world number one ranking from Roger Federer if he wins a record-extending eighth title in Rome this week.
Thiem, who finished runner-up in Madrid on Sunday, struggled to find his rhythm in a 6-4 1-6 6-3 defeat by Fabio Fognini.
World number 21 Fognini, backed by a partisan Italian crowd, frustrated Thiem with well-placed lobs and touch volleys and went on to record his first win over the Austrian in three meetings.
Novak Djokovic, a four-time winner in Rome, powered into the third round with a convincing 6-4 6-2 win over Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili.
The Serb will have opportunity to reach his first quarter-final of the season today, when he faces Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Japan’s Kei Nishikori denied Grigor Dimitrov a 27th birthday win to progress to the third round, rallying back from a set down to beat the world number four 6-7(4) 7-5 6-4.
Men’s results:
(x denotes seeded player)
2nd rd: Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-1, 6-0; Fabio Fognini (ITA) bt Dominic Thiem (AUT x6) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3; Kei Nishikori (JPN) bt Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x3) 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-4; Novak Djokovic (SRB x11) bt Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-4, 6-2; Albert Ramos Vinolas (ESP) bt John Isner (USA x8) 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5); Aljaz Bedene (SLO) bt Kevin Anderson (RSA x7) 6-4, 0-0 -- retired; Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP x10) bt Steve Johnson (USA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; Marin Cilic (CRO x4) bt Ryan Harrison (USA) 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 7-6 (7/1); Juan Martin del Potro (ARG x5) bt Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 7-5, 6-3