TENNIS – Novak Djokovic had to dig deep when Nicolas Almagro won the second set forcing the match to the third set in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on a warm day in Rome. The Serb bounced back to win the third set for 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 in his first match after three weeks of rest following his triumph in Monte-Carlo. Diego Sampaolo
After winning the first set 6-1 in just 28 minutes, Djokovic came close to a two-set win as he was leading 5-2 in the tie-break but Almagro (who is now ranked World Number 174 after a foot injury) reeled off five points in a row to win the breaker with 7-5 and force the match to the third set.
Almagro tripped awkwardly at 2-2 in the decider. Fortunately Almagro recovered but Djokovic broke serve to build a 5-3 lead in the third set before wrapping up the match in little more than two hours to extend his winning streak to 18 consecutive matches. He is bidding to defend his Rome title and win this tournament for the fourth time in his career after 2008, 2011 and 2014. .
Djokovic converted on all his three break points and fended off the only break point he faced.
“In the most important moments today I felt a bit uncomfortable. Maybe that’s from lack of playing. I am sure I will be back on track in no time. It’s a win after three weeks with no official match. In the most important moments today I did feel a little uncomfortable. I won against a quality player who knows how to play on the big stage. It was a great test. Before coming to the court I was aware he was going to present a great challenge. I needed to take some time off because I have played a lot of matches. It has been one of the best starts to the season of my life but I needed to take it off, recharge my batteries and spend some time at home. It affected my overall feeling on the court especially in the tough moments. Hopefully the day off tomorrow will allow me to spend some more time on the court, working to get better in the next one. ”, said Djokovic.
Stan Wawrinka fought back from a set down to battle past Juan Monaco with 4-6 6-3 6-2. Wawrinka recovered from a set and a break down to win the second set and force the match to the third set.
Monaco went up 2-0 in the opening set and missed four double chances to take a 4-0 lead before dropping his serve. At 3-3 both players traded breaks for three consecutive games until 4-5 for Monaco. The player from Tandil produced a forehand drop-shot t close out the first set with 6-4. Monaco opened up a 3-1 lead with a break but Wawrinka reeled off five consecutive games to force the match to the third set. At 2-2 in the decider Wawrinka won four consecutive games to clinch a hard-fought match. .
Guiilermo Garcia Lopez upset last year US Open champion Marin Cilic with 6-4 6-3. Lopez had to save four break points (one in the sixth game and three in a very long tenth game). Cilic struggled on her serve and had to save many break points. The second set featured a very long second game with 24 points where Lopez got six break point chances. Cilic dropped his serve at the ninth break point chance in the fifth game after a double fault.
Feliciano Lopez overcame Australian Open quarter finalist Nick Kyrgios with 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Kyrgios saved a break point but he could not hold his serve at 4-all. Lopez closed out the first set with 6-4. In the second set the 20-year-old Australian player faced a break point but Lopez failed to convert on his break point chance. The second set came down to the tie-break. Kyrgios went down 1-3. Lopez took a 5-4 lead and closed out the win with her serve.
Jo Wilfred Tsonga broke serve five times in his 7-6 (8-6) 6-0 win over Sam Querrey setting up a second round match agaisst David Goffin, who fought back from dropping the first set to overcome Italian qualifier Andrea Arnaboldi with 5-7 6-2 6-1. Tsonga recently beat Goffin in straight sets in Monte-Carlo and leads 3-1 in their four head-to-head matches.
Victor Troicki battled past Bernard Tomic after three tie-breaks with 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-4).
