Despite beating Dominic Thiem in three sets in front of his home crowd, Fabio Fognini is tempering his expectations and taking each match at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia one step at a time. Watch live tennis at tennistv.com.
Marin Cilic overcame a slow start on Wednesday in Rome to beat Ryan Harrison of the U.S. 6-7(3), 6-1, 7-6(1) for the seventh time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series (7-1). [ALSO LIKE] Their second-round match was suspended late Tuesday night because of rain at 6-6(3-3), and Harrison started faster on Court Centrale on Wednesday afternoon, winning the first four points to quickly take a one-set lead. Cilic, though, recovered well, winning 86 per cent of his first-serve points (12/14) in the second set to even the match. The Croatian was steadier in the final-set tie-break as well, winning the first five points as Harrison grew frustrated with his play. Cilic will next meet Frenchman Benoit Paire for a place...
Kei Nishikori denied Grigor Dimitrov a 27th birthday win to reach the Internazionali BNL d’Italia third round on Wednesday, defeating the World No. 4 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4. Nishikori, who entered Rome on a three-match losing streak, came from a set and a break down to defeat Dimitrov for the fourth time in five FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings. Dimitrov has now lost four consecutive matches in Rome, dating back to his first-round win over Poland's Jerzy Janowicz in 2015. The Japanese star, a Rome semi-finalist in 2016 (l. to Djokovic) will meet Philipp Kohlschreiber for a place in the quarter-finals. The German defeated Jack Sock in straight sets on Tuesday. Nishikori secured the opening break of the match in the fifth...
Kei Nishikori breaks down his strategy to come from a set down to defeat Grigor Dimitrov in what he describes as a "battle" for both players at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. Watch live tennis at tennistv.com.
Novak Djokovic lives in Monte-Carlo, but he again looked very much at home at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome on Wednesday. The four-time champion sped past Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4, 6-3, playing off the Italian crowd in the intimate Court Pietrangeli to advance in 77 minutes. “I thought the atmosphere was unique, phenomenal. It's one of the most beautiful tennis courts in the world,” Djokovic said. “I have great memories there. And I think it's so nice to play in front of the people that also don't have to buy ticket for Court [Centrale]... It's very intimate.” [ALSO LIKE] The straight-sets win sets up a chance for Djokovic to reach his first ATP World Tour quarter-final of the season...
