Back on the right path

Rome, September 16

Novak Djokovic behaved better today in his first match since being defaulted from the US Open. The top-ranked Serb was mostly courteous with the chair umpire during a 6-3 6-2 win over local wild-card entry Salvatore Caruso in his opening match at the Italian Open. When the umpire came down to inspect a ball mark on the red clay early in the first set and made an overrule in Caruso’s favour, Djokovic just replied, “Yup,” and rubbed out the mark with his red sneaker.

When Caruso impressed him — the Italian hit 13 winners to Djokovic’s 12 — Djokovic said, “Bravo.”

Djokovic’s only testy moment came during the third game of the second set, which went to deuce seven times before Djokovic finally broke Caruso’s serve. As the game wore on, Djokovic appeared bothered by crowd noise, even though the Campo Centrale is empty of fans this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The only people inside the stadium were coaches and others working at the tournament.

“Which ones?” the umpire asked Djokovic, trying to figure out who was bothering him. Djokovic replied curtly: “There’s 10 people in the stands.”

Four-time champion Djokovic has recorded 51 victories in 60 matches, making him the second most successful player in the tournament’s history — just behind nine-time champion Rafael Nadal. Djokovic has won 27 of his 28 matches this year and will resume his hunt for an 18th Grand Slam title at the French Open, which begins on September 27.

Italian teenager stuns Stan

Local teenager Lorenzo Musetti stunned Stan Wawrinka 6-0 7-6(2) in the first round. Out-hitting Wawrinka’s famed backhand with a one-handed version of his own, the 18-year-old qualifier moved the three-time Grand Slam champion from corner to corner and displayed an all-court game.

Musetti became the first player born in 2002 to win on the ATP tour — after fellow Italian Jannik Sinner achieved the feat last year for players born in 2001. — AP