Roger Federer got off to his Rome Masters 1000 campaign with a convincing 6-3 7-5 win over young German rising star Alexander Zverev to get through to the third round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Federer made his return to the court after missing the Madrid tournament due to a backinjury
Federer, who finished runner-up in the Rome Foro Italico four times in 2003, 2006, 2013 and 2015, got his only break in the sixth game for 4-2 with a drop-shot return winner en route to taking the first set 6-3 on his third set point opportunity after half an hour. Federer won eight of the last nine points played on his serve.
Zverev won just two of his six first serves in the sixth game.
Federer broke serve again in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead as Zverev missed his backhand. Federer misfired on a forehand into the net to face a break point but saved it with a smash. Zverev earned a second break point with a backhand off the top of the tape and converted it as Federer hit his backhand into the middle of the net.
Federer hit a forehand down the line to bring up a break point but Zverev managed to hold his serve for 5-4. Federer earned three break points in the 11th game with a forehand winner. The Swiss Maestro earned a fourth break point with a backhand down the line and got the break, when Zverev hit a forehand down the line wide.
Federer got two match points with a drop-shot winner and closed out the match in one hour and 27 minutes.
Federer set up a very interesting third round match against Dominic Thiem, who beat Joao Sousa 6-3 6-2 in one hour and five minutes.
“I played very carefully today. I decided to play after the warm-up. I am surprised that I won in two sets. I decide day after day. I hope to be able to play tomorrow. I would like to win in Rome for the first time buti t will not happen this year. The focus is on the French Open. I am here in Rome to get some information. I cannot win the tournament but I am just happy to play this tournament this year. It was not an easy match against a very talented player. I hope Zverev will compete at the top in the future. He played very well in the second set but i created opportunities with my drop-shot and the slice. Experience helped me today. There is a lot of work to do ahead of the Olympic Games but I am not focused on Rio at the moment”, said Federer after the match.
Thiem dropped his serve in the first game but won eight consecutive points to take a 2-1 lead with a break-back in the second game. Thiem saved two break points in the fourth game and broke serve to 30. Both players traded breaks in the fifth and sixth games. Sousa managed to hold his serve for the first time in the match at 2-5 but Thiem served out for the first set to 15.
Thiem got two consecutive breaks in the fifth and seventh games en route to winning the second set 6-2.