Four-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic cruised past Denis Shapovalov 6-1 6-3 in just 66 minutes on Centre Court of the Foro Italico in Rome to reach the third round at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
Djokovic, who won the Rome tournament four times in 2008, 2011, won 80 % of his first serve points and converted four of his thirteen break points. Shapovalov hit 24 unforced errors to 16 winners and did not have a break point chance. In their previous head-to-head match Djokovic beat Shapovalov in four sets 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-0 in the third round of the Australian Open.
Djokovic converted his third break point chance in the fourth game to open up a 3-1 lead after a double fault from Shapovalov. Djokovic went up a double break at 15 in the sixth game and sealed the first set 6-1 with a hold at love after 30 minutes.
Shapovalov saved a total of seven break points in the first and third games of the second set, but Djokovic converted his eighth chance at 3-3 when Shapovalov made a backhand error. The Serbian player closed out the second set with a double break at 5-3.
Djokovic, 15-time Grand Slam champion and 33-time Masters 1000 winner, set up a third round match against Phillip Kohlschreiber, who beat Marco Cecchinato 6-3 6-3. The German veteran beat Djokovic earlier this year at Indian Wells.
Juan Martin Del Potro knocked out David Goffin 6-4 6-2 in 1 hour and 18 minutes to reach the third round in just his third tournament of the year. Del Potro lost just five first-serve points and broke serve four times. Del Potro drew the first blood by breaking serve in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Goffin broke back to draw level to 3-3 after a double fault from Del Potro. The Argentine broke for the second time to seal the the first set 6-4. Del Potro broke twice in the first and fifth games to seal the second set 6-2.
