(Rome) The world No.1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic regained his footing on the clay of the Masters 1000 in Rome on Friday by winning the 2e round against the Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry (61e) 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.
A fortnight before Roland-Garros (May 28-June 11), the Serb, who played with protection around his right elbow, did not raise all questions about his state of form after three weeks away from the courts, since his misstep in the quarter-finals of the Banja Luka tournament.
But the six-time winner of the Rome tournament ensured the essentials with a victory in two sets with a game that was not always under control, but the shots needed at the key moments of a first set disputed against an Argentinian he met for the first time.
After the loss of his first face-off, “Nole” set about tightening his game and finding his bearings on the center court of Foro Italico, complaining during a change of sides of a thickness of ground too important disturbing the rebounds or making a few loosening movements as if he had heavy legs.
Taken to the tiebreaker, he was seriously jostled, but pocketed the set with an experience that must have appreciated as a connoisseur José Mourinho, the coach of AS Roma, installed in the stands.
The world No.1 for a few more days (he will be dislodged after the tournament by the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz) had a much quieter second set, after having broken at the start this time.
Djokovic will meet at 3e turn the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (33e), beat veteran Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).