Juan Martin del Potro drew upon his big-match experience on Wednesday to overcome the challenge one of the rising #NextGenATP stars, Greek qualifier Stefanos Tsitsipas. Fifth seed Del Potro, a quarter-finalist in 2009 and 2017 at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, triumphed 7-5, 6-3 in one hour and 42 minutes on Pietrangeli for a third-round test against ninth seed David Goffin of Belgium. Del Potro and Goffin are tied at 1-1 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, following two matches in 2016 at the Rolex Shanghai Masters and the Swiss Indoors Basel. “It’s going to be a really tough one for me,” said Del Potro. “David has a great game, and he could be in the final of this tournament and...
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...
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...
Seven-time champion Rafael Nadal sent a warning to his rivals on an overcast Wednesday at the Foro Italico in Rome. The top seed improved to 15-1 on red dirt this season by defeating Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina 6-1, 6-0 in just 61 minutes on Court Centrale at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. He will next challenge Canada's Denis Shapovalov, who won their only previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting at the 2017 Roger's Cup. “It was a positive match, of course,” said Nadal. "It was important, after a loss in Madrid, to come back strong. 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....
