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.
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
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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.
