Marin Cilic came back from one set down to beat US Ryan Harrison 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 7-6 (7-1) in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, after the match was suspended on Tuesday at 6-6 (3-3) in the tie-break of the first set due to rain in late evening.
The Croatian player has extended his win-loss record against Harrison to 7-1 in their eighth head-to-head matches. Cilic is looking to reach his first semifinal in the Italian capital.
Harrison won four consecutive points to close out the first set tie-break. Cilic bounced back by getting a double break in the fourth and sixth games to win the second set 6-1 forcing the match to the third set. Cilic got the first break of the third set at love in the fifth game. Harrison broke straight back at 30 in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Both players went on serve in the next games to set up a decisive tie-break. Cilic won the first five points en route to winning the tie-break 7-1.
Del Potro beats Tsitsipas:
Juan Martin Del Potro beat Greek Next Gen star Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5 6-3 to reach the third round. Tsitsipas saved a break point in the second game to hold his serve at deuce before converting his second break point to take a 2-1 lead. Del Potro broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. The set went on serve in the next three games before Del Potro converted his fifth break point to seal the first set at deuce by 7-5. Del Potro converted the only break point of the second set to close out the match 6-3.
Pablo Carreno Busta saved three of the four break points he faced to edge past Steve Johnson 6-4 2-6 6-4 setting up a third round match against Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene, who advanced after Kevin Anderson was forced to retire from the match after losing the first set 6-4. Last week Anderson reached the first Masters 1000 semifinal of his career.
