Roma - Rafael Nadal won easily in his first game at the Italian Open. Novak Djokovic also won straight sets to qualify for the last 16.
Nadal just gave a game for his opponent, Damir Dzumhur, in the second round match at Foro Italico on Wednesday (05/16/2018). Nadal took just 61 minutes to beat the Bosnian with a score of 6-1, 6-0.
In the last 16, Nadal will face Denis Shapovalov (Canada) or Robin Haase (Netherlands).
Nadal lost his place in world number one after failing to defend his title at the Madrid Open last week. However, the Spaniard can recapture him from Roger Federer if he becomes champion at the Italian Open. Federer himself is absent in clay tournaments, including the Italian Open.
In other matches, Djokovic overcame resistance Nikoloz Basilashvili (Georgia) with a score of 6-4, 6-2. The former world number one will next face Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Third seeded Grigor Dimitrov can not go far in this tournament. The Bulgarian was jailed by Kei Nishikori (Japan) with a score of 7-6 (4), 5-7, 4-6. Nishikori will next meet Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany).
Dominic Thiem, who beat Nadal at the Madrid Open, could not get past the second half. The Austrian surrendered in the hands of the home representative, Fabio Fognini, with a score of 4-6, 6-1, 3-6.