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Djokovic eases past Caruso at Italian Open

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Rome, Italy—World Number 1 Novak Djokovic made winning returns at the Italian Open on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) easing into the third round of the clay-court tournament in Rome.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic serves to Italy’s Salvatore Caruso on day three of the Men’s Italian Open at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. AFP

Djokovic eased past Italian wild card entry Salvatore Caruso 6-3, 6-2 after his unbeaten record this season was ended with a US Open last 16 default for accidently striking a line judge with a ball hit in frustration.

“I didn’t feel that I had any mental or emotional blockages or any dramas playing a match today,” said the world number one.

Djokovic, who had said he had learned a “big lesson” was keen to move on in Rome.

The 33-year-old playfully greeted an imaginary crowd in an empty Central Court because of strict coronavirus measures. 

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Only some noisy workers managed to unnerve the 17-time Grand Slam winner after missing break points.

“I don’t know who it was, but it was noise coming from there during the points.

“That’s the only thing that we, I and Caruso, also told chair umpire.”

Djokovic continued where he left off before his US Open exit, having won the Cincinnati Masters on the same Flushing Meadows courts.

“It was a very good test for me. I’m very pleased with the way I handled myself in important moments,” said Djokovic, who has reached nine finals in Rome and won four.

He next plays 29th-ranked fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic for a place in the quarter-finals.

Halep, Azarenka advance

Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas fell to Italian teenager Jannik Sinner 6-1, 6-7 (9/11), 6-2, with sixth seeded Belgian David Goffin also exiting 6-2, 6-2 to Croatia’s Marin Cilic.

Top women’s seed Simona Halep returned a month after winning in Prague to ease past 99th-ranked Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-4.  AFP

“It was a little bit difficult to get the rhythm and to get relaxed,” said the 28-year-old Romanian, who skipped the US Open but is warming up for a bid for a second French Open title later this month.

US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka shrugged off the move from hard court to the clay surface to beat American Venus Williams 7-6 (9/7), 6-2, in their first round match.

Belarusian Azarenka will play third seeded American Sofia Kenin, the reigning Australian Open champion, for a place in the third round.

Swiss sixth seed Belinda Bencic fell 6-3, 6-1 in her second round match to Montenegro’s 86th-ranked Danka Kovinic.

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