Six-time champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia overcame a second-set slump to defeat Grigor Dimitrov in the third round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Italian Open) here on Sunday. Djokovic came up with a high-class third-set showing to win the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 The top seed and defending champion Djokovic won the first set easily and looked set for a routine third-round victory when he led Dimitrov by a set and a break at 6-3, 4-2.
An inspired run of four games from the Bulgarian Dimitrov gave him the second set and forced a decider at the Foro Italico. However, Djokovic expertly raised his level to reach the fourth round with his 1050th tour-level victory. With his two-hour, 20-minute win, Djokovic improved to 11-1 in his ATP head-to-head series against Dimitrov. The 35-year-old will next take on 13th seed Cameron Norrie or Marton Fucsovics as he bids to reach the quarter-finals for the 17th time in as many appearances in Rome.
Medvedev downs Ruusuvuori for maiden win
Daniil Medvedev arrived at this year’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia with 76 ATP Masters 1000 match wins, but none of them had come in Rome. On Sunday, the 27-year-old added to his collection a win in the Eternal City by defeating Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland in the second round of the Italian Open.
Medvedev overcame Ruusuvuori 6-4, 6-2 to reach the third round at the clay-court event.
Swiatek into Round of 16; Bouzkova upsets Gauff
World No.1 Iga Swiatek eased into the Round of 16 after beating Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-0 in the third round on Sunday. The two-time defending champion will face either No.16 Liudmila Samsonova or No.21 Donna Vekic next.
In other action, Marie Bouzkova of Czech Republic notched an upset in a rain-postponed match, ousting No.6 seed American Coco Gauff 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the Round of 16.
