Djokovic needs less than an hour to win Rome opener

[May 15, 2018]  With two weeks remaining before the French Open, Novak Djokovic is working on his game at a tournament that has been very good to him in his career. And things certainly held to form on Monday.

The former World No. 1 and four-time Internazionali BNL d'Italia winner had little trouble in the opening round in Rome on Monday, blowing past Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-3 in a match that lasted only 56 minutes.

Working his way back from an elbow injury, the 30-year-old Serb fell to No. 18 in the latest world rankings released Monday. However, with eyes on Roland Garros, Djokovic seems to be at the perfect spot on the clay courts in Rome. Along with his four titles, he was runner-up there in each of the last two years.

"It was a great start. I always feel very comfortable in Rome," Djokovic said. "I think the conditions are quite suitable to my game. I always look forward to coming back to Rome."

Against Dolgopolov on Monday, Djokovic was both aggressive and tactical. He had six aces (compared to none for Dolgopolov) while putting 67 percent of his first serves in play. He also won 80 percent of his first-service points and broke his opponent four times.

"The last three, four weeks have been better on the practice courts and in matches," Djokovic said. "Today's match encourages me to move forward and hopefully I can get a few more matches in Rome than I have in the last couple months."

The next hurdle for Djokovic will come in his next match.

He hasn't won consecutive matches in a month, and only once since the Australian Open in January. He'll get a chance to break that drought against the winner of Tuesday's match between qualifiers Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia and Filippo Baldi of Italy.

Djokovic has never faced either player. A win in that match and Djokovic could face eighth-seeded American John Isner.

Among the other notable results Monday, Japan's Kei Nishikori defeated Spain's Feliciano Lopez, 7-6 (5), 6-4, while ninth-seeded David Goffin of Belgium -- the highest-seeded player to play in the opening round -- defeated Argentina's Leonardo Mayer, 6-1, 6-2.

Tenth-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain pulled away from American Jared Donaldson 4-6, 3-6, 6-0. Italy's Matteo Berrettini got past American qualifier Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-6 (1).

Benoit Paire beat Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4 in an all-French battle.

--Field Level Media

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