Djokovic blasts into Rome second round

ROME: Novak Djokovic got off to a winning start in his bid for a fifth ATP Italian Open title on Monday with a straight sets win over Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov as he gears up for the French Open in two weeks time.

The 11th-seeded Serb, who has reached eight of the last ten finals in Rome and won four — took 55 minutes to oust Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-3 on the red clay of the Foro Italico.Former world number one Djokovic has slipped six places to 18th after his second round defeat in Madrid, his lowest ranking since October 2006. The 12-time Grand Slam winner broke 54th-ranked Dolgopolov three times in the opening set, with another break in the second helping him wrap up the match.

“Today’s match is encouraging and gives me reason to believe I can go all the way, but at the same time I have to be modest” said Djokovic who has been battling his way back from elbow surgery. “The conditions here are pretty suitable to my game. In 2008 it was one of the first titles I won and I always play well in Rome.”

Djokovic, who last won in Rome in 2015, next plays either Nikoloz Basilashvili or Filippo Baldi two qualifiers before a potential third round meeting with American eighth seed John Isner. And the 30-year-old said his focus was on the French Open where he won his last Grand Slam title in 2016. “The French Open is where I want to play my best tennis that is one big goal for this part of the season. I feel I’m going in the right direction.”

Earlier Japan’s Kei Nishikori eased into the men’s second round with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 win over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez as Italy’s Roberta Vinci bowed out of her final WTA tournament with a first round defeat. Former US Open finalist Vinci fell 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 to Serbian qualifier Aleksandra Krunic.