News24
17 Sep 2020, 02:12 GMT+10
Defending champion Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic made winning returns at the Italian Open on Wednesday with the top two men's seeds easing into the third round of the clay-court tournament in Rome.
Nine-time winner Nadal swept aside fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 6-1 in his first match in over six months, played behind closed doors at the Foro Italico.
The world number two has not played since winning in Acapulco at the end of February, opting to skip the US hard court tour amid coronavirus concerns.
"It was a good feeling going out there," said 34-year-old Nadal.
"Not beautiful, the feeling playing without the spectators, because the energy of the fans is impossible to describe.
"But for me, at least, today was a very positive comeback.
"I played a very solid match and very serious and doing a lot of things very well, so very happy."
Nadal only conceded one break point chance to his 18th-ranked rival who showed signs of tiredness having reached the semi-finals of the US Open.
Nadal is building towards his bid for a 13th French Open title, although he stressed: "I never take Rome like preparation for nothing else."
Earlier, 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.
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 the 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.
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.
"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.
The world number two, a two-time Rome finalist, next meets either American Amanda Anisimova or Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine.
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.
Get a daily dose of Zimbabwe Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Zimbabwe Star.
More InformationMADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Paramount has agreed to pay US$16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over...
LONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. President...
Birmingham [UK], July 5 (ANI): KL Rahul continued his fine overseas run in Test cricket, becoming only the second Indian opener after...
* China's first LEGOLAND resort opened on Saturday in Shanghai. * Spanning 318,000 square meters, LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is the...
Worcester [UK], July 5 (ANI): India's 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi cracked the fastest century in the U19 ODI...
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 5 (ANI): Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson made a record-breaking return to the Kerala...
* In recent years, BRICS has transformed into a major force fostering cooperation among Global South nations. This collaboration not...
(Photo credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images) Catcher Agustin Ramirez, who entered this weekend leading all major-league rookies with...