Denis Shapovalov defeated Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets to advance to the third round of the Italian Open in Rome on Tuesday. He was imitated by his compatriot Félix Auger-Aliassime, but in three rounds.
Shapovalov won 6-4 and 7-6 (7/5) in 1h 40min.
The Ontarian, the 16th player in the world, hit 70% of his first serves, in addition to making 7 aces. He won 85% of rallies on his first pitch.
He covers the ground well and he gets points every time he climbs into the net (100%, 4/4).
Shapovalov will face the winner in the match between Rafael Nadal and the great American John Isner (27th) in the next round.
Nadal, in search of his 11th title in Rome, is expected on Wednesday for his first match, against Isner (27th), who beat Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (49th) 6-4 and 6 -3 in the first round.
And in the state where Nadal is, success is far from certain.
Hard for Félix Auger-Aliassime
For his part, full-handed Félix Auger-Aliassime (9th) against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (29th). He won 4-6, 7-6 (7/2) and 6-2.
At the start of the year, at the Australian Open, Quebecer suffered before winning with extreme accuracy 7-6 (6/4), 6-7 (4/6), 7-6 (6/5) and 7-6 ( 6/4).
In Rome, after a balanced first round in exchanges and statistics, which the Spanish won, things became complicated in the second.
He left his opponent to return to score 5-5 to force a tiebreaker.
In the third round, Auger-Aliassime did what was necessary to avoid a repeat of the painful Melbourne experience.
He tightened his game, won 72% of rallies on his first serve, and was able to win the third set on his second match point after saving a break point in the eighth game.
Félix Auger-Aliassime will face the winner in the match between Argentinian Diego Schwartzman and American Marcos Giron in the next round.
Good first step
Novak Djokovic defeated Russian Aslan Karatsev 6-3, 6-2 in straight sets in his first game, in the second round.
The Serb won in 1 h 30 min.
The world number one, runner-up last year, will find in the next round the winner of the match between his compatriot Laslo Djere (59th) and the Swiss Stan Wawrinka (361st), who won his first victory in for 15 months on Monday after a long absence due to injury.
Djokovic did not use his reserves to dismiss the 35th in the ATP, who beat him in April 2021, in Belgrade, just during their clay confrontation.
the Joker revved up on the first run. If he lost service after the first break, he continued to face the Russian again to take a 5-3 lead.
Less than two weeks before the French Open, he was still pretty much looking for benchmarks after a first quarter that almost stopped marked by his expulsion to Australia.
Djokovic must reach the semi-finals if he wants to keep his No. 1 spot sought by Daniil Medvedev.
For his part, Argentinian Diego Schwartzman, finalist in 2020, will have to fight to pass the first round. He erased two match points before bringing Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic to the heel 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/3) in 2:45.
Schwartzman, 15th in the world, won 17 against clay in 2022. He surpassed young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (16 wins in 17 battles).
Other results of the day:
First round :
- David Goffin (BEL) lost. Hubert Hurkacz (POL/no 11) 7-6 (10/8), 7-6 (7/2)
- Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) defeated Brandon Nakashima (USA) 6-3, 6-4
- Cameron Norrie (GBR/no 9) defeated Luca Nardi (ITA) 6-4, 6-4
- Sebastian Baez (ARG) defeated Tallon Griekspoor (NED) 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 6-2
Second turn:
- Christian Garin (CHI) defeated Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 6-4, 6-4
Source: Radio-Canada
