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...
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....
Fabio Fognini, fueled by the support of fervent Italians at the Foro Italico, caused a major upset on Wednesday in beating one of the ATP World Tour’s best clay talents, sixth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem, at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Fognini, just two days on from the 300th match win of his career, defeated last year’s semi-finalist 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in two hours and five minutes for a place in the third round – for the third time in four years. This year's Brasil Open champion, who is 19-10 in 2018, will now prepare to face Germany's Peter Gojowczyk on Thursday. Fognini won three of the first four games, then, after being broken to 15 at 4-3, the Italian played smart...
