Carlos Alcaraz launched his candidacy for a first title of Italian Open by sailing after the Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-3 in Rome on Friday. The world number three, Alcaraz exceeded Lajovic in an hour and 23 minutes on his return to action following a thigh injury suffered during his final defeat of Barcelona in Holger Rune last month. The Spaniard has shown some signs of roller rust with 22 uns forked errors, but still managed to win the first four games of the match to give Lajovic too much to do in the first set. And Alcaraz closed the match in a professional style with another fast departure in the second set which put three games forward him, allowing him to serve for victory.
“Today was a very good day at the office, I hope that tomorrow and Sunday will be better,” said Alcaraz.
“Of course, I tried to make the most of my time when I do not play tournaments, I always try to find positive things … I could stay more at home with my friends, with my family, recover and become a little mentally fresh.
“It was a great performance, a great level, which surprised me a little, but I am really very happy for that.”
Alcaraz will now face one of Alex Michelsen and Laslo Djere in the third round while he looks at a potential final with the world number one Jannik in the Italian capital.
Sinner will return to a three -month doping ban on Saturday when he faces Mariano Navone to what will be a partisan crowd at Foro Italico.
One of the potential opponents of Alcaraz in the last 16, Grigor Dimitrov, fell to the first obstacle against the participant Wild Card Francesco Passaro.
– Sabalenka through –
Dimitrov Bulgarian, the 14th seeded, was beaten 7-5, 6-3 by Italian Passaro, who will face the Burruchaga Romain or Karen Khachanov in the next round.
The winner of last year, Alexander Zverev, is in action against Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina, during the last match of the day in the central court.
Home Hope Lorenzo Musetti opens his week against the qualifier Otto Virtanen after entering the top ten of the world male ranking for the first time.
Aryna Sabalenka crossed Anastasia Potapova and in the third round with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
The finalist defeated last year and the current world number one, Sabalenka swept the Russian potapova in just over an hour.
“I would say that the best player is still a favorite,” said a confident Sabalenka.
“I know that if I bring my best match and my spirit of fighting on the field, I know that I can win this tournament.”
Sabalenka will play Sofia Kenin the next round after the Americans beat another Russian at Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in two sets, 6-3, 6-0.
Sabalenka, 27, has reached the final of his last four tournaments, with 1000 serial victories in Miami and Madrid.
Subjects mentioned in this article
Aryna Sabalenka
Tennis
