ATP Rome: Novak Djokovic wins against Taylor Fritz in extra time
Novak Djokovic had almost reached the round of 16 of the ATP tournament in Rome - he had to go again in the evening. And won against Taylor Fritz with 6: 3 and 7: 6 (5).
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: May 11, 2021, 08:13 pm
After winning the first set, Djokovic was twice in the second round with a break - in the end he even served to win the match. Then the world number one had to be patient first. When the score was 6: 3, 5: 5 against Taylor Fritz, it was first of all: forced break.
"How long should we play," Djokovic then shouted angrily towards the referee. The rain under which Djokovic and Fritz had played almost their entire second round encounter had meanwhile become much stronger.
The two were only able to resume their work at 7.45 p.m. local time - and the favorite got the second set in the tie-break and thus the match with a concentrated lecture.
Schwartzman with error orgy, Nishikori possible Zverev opponent
Before that, Toni Nadal protégé Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Diego Schwartzman, who was right next to him, 6: 1, 6: 3, had progressed relaxed. Schwartzman made 25 mistakes in the game, which lasted only one hour, with only 1 winner (an ace). FAA is already in the round of 16.
For Schwartzman, however, things are currently not going at all: The Argentine lost in Monte Carlo and Madrid at the start, but against Casper Ruud and Aslan Karatsev also against strong competition. In Barcelona it was at least the quarter-finals for the tenth in the world rankings.
Kei Nishikori made it into the last 16 without a fight, benefiting from an injury to Pablo Carreno Busta. As in Madrid, Nishikori could meet Alexander Zverev if he made his two-round game against Hugo Dellien victorious.
Monfils without fortune
Madrid finalist Matteo Berrettini won his first round game, beating Munich winner Nikoloz Basilashvili 4: 6, 6: 2 and 6: 4. His next opponent: John Millman.
Meanwhile, Gael Monfils missed a victory: The Frenchman has been waiting for a victory since the tour resumed in late summer 2020, in Rome it didn't work out against birthday boy Lorenzo Sonego either. Monfils, last injured, showed a good performance in his 4-6, 7-5, 4-6 first-round defeat.
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