Ontarian Denis Shapovalov was ousted 6-7 (4), 6-3 and 7-6 (4) by Italian Luciano Darderi in the first round of the Rome Tennis Open on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old from Richmond Hill struggled with his serve, committing a total of 14 double faults, and only served 55% of his first serves. Darderi converted six break points, compared to just four for Shapovalov.
Darderi will meet Argentinian Mariano Navone in the next round on Friday.
Shapovalov, who clocks in at 126e world level, has a record of 6-11 so far this season.
His compatriot, Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime, is the 18e top seed of the tournament. He obtained a bye for the second round, where he will face the winner of the duel scheduled for Thursday between the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp and the American Nicolas Moreno De Alboran. Auger-Aliassime was a finalist at the Madrid Masters last Sunday.
Furthermore, the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro defeated Gaël Monfils 6-2, 7-5, while Yoshihito Nishioka ousted Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 2-6 and 7-6 (4).
Several matches were suspended due to rain.
Rafael Nadal, the record holder with ten titles in Rome, will begin his journey in the Italian capital against Belgian Zizou Bergs on Thursday.
Favorite Novak Djokovic, who will also be in Rome after taking a month’s break, is in the other portion of the main draw. However, second seed Jannik Sinner and world number three Carlos Alcaraz will be absent due to injuries.
Former Wimbledon finalist, Italian Matteo Berrettini, also withdrew, specifying that he was not sufficiently recovered from a series of health issues.
On the women’s side, Naomi Osaka looked comfortable in her first match in Rome, en route to a 7-6 (2), 6-1 victory over No. 45e world player Clara Burel.
It was the Japanese’s first victory against a player in the world top 50 since winning against Victoria Azarenka at the French Open in 2019.
This is also the first time Osaka has played in Rome since 2019 — she then reached the quarter-finals.
Osaka, an ex-no 1 in the world which is now at 173e rank due to her maternity leave, will face the 19th in the next rounde top seed, Marta Kostyuk. The latter recently reached the final of the clay court tournament in Stuttgart, Germany.
On the other hand, the American Bernarda Pera defeated her compatriot Caroline Dolehide 7-6 (6), 6-3. She will face tournament favorite Iga Swiatek in the next round.
Additionally, Magda Linette defeated Zhu Lin 6-3, 6-2, Brenda Fruhvirtova came from behind to defeat Taylor Townsend 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, while Lesia Tsurenko eliminated Donna Vekic 6 -2, 3-6 and 7-6 (5).
The Italian Tennis Federation announced that Camila Giorgi, an Italian player who climbed to 26e place in the world rankings and who won the National Bank Open in Montreal in 2021, has decided to retire.
Rome is the last stop before the French Open, which begins on May 26.