While Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray were battling it out at the Madrid Masters final, first round action had already started at the final claycourt Masters of the season – Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Sunday.
12th seed David Goffin was the highest seed to win. The Belgian, who suffered a tough opening round defeat to Lucas Pouille at the Spanish capital, rebounded to edge past Leonardo Mayer, 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-3. He now awaits the winner of the match between Jack Sock and Guido Pella.
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23rd ranked Feliciano Lopez was not as lucky. The 34-year-old Spaniard was bundled out 4-6, 6(5)-7 by the 16th seed Kevin Anderson, who has lost a major chunk of the season due to injury. This was just his second ATP win of 2016.c
Also read: Masters record as Djokovic sinks Murray in final
Sam Querrey, who led Rafael Nadal in the first set at Madrid during their third round encounter, could not replicate that play and succumbed to a 4-6, 4-6 defeat to Spain’s 57th ranked Albert Ramos-Vinolas. He next faces the eighth seed Tomas Berdych.
While the Houston winner Juan Monaco dismissed Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-4, 24th ranked Viktor Troicki dropped just five games to sail past Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-4, 6-1. The Serb, who broke the Russian thrice during this first round contest, has a tough proposition up next as he meets the sixth seed Kei Nishikori.
The Italian capital will also witness a battle between good friends as Benoit Paire set up a second round meeting with the fourth seed and 2008 runner-up Stan Wawrinka. The Frenchman advanced after Bernard Tomic called it quits due to illness after just eight minutes with the score 2-1 in his favour.
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The Australian has come under a lot of criticism last week after appearing to give up while facing three match points against Fabio Fognini. The 22-year-old had turned his racquet around and simply watched without making any effort to return the Italian’s serve.
