Zverev and Swiatek advance as Djokovic falls; Sabalenka hopes to compete under Belarus flag

Alexander Zverev eased into the third round of the Italian Open on Friday after comfortably dealing with fellow German Daniel Altmaier in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3.

Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the second round by Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion was making his comeback from a shoulder injury in the last big tournament before the French Open.

Djokovic was playing for the first time since losing in the last 16 at Indian Wells in March, having pulled out of tournaments in Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid.

A two-time former winner, Zverev took one hour and 45 minutes to see off Altmaier, who has never won a title on the men’s tour and didn’t have enough for the second seed.

Zverev is in good form having reached the final in Madrid last weekend and he is again on the other side of the draw to red-hot favourite Jannik Sinner.

The 29-year-old has been beaten by Sinner in four Masters 100 events this year and will have his work cut out if he is to add to his 2017 and 2024 titles in Rome.

Novak Djokovic is set for his first appearance on clay this season when he plays 20-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic.

The 38-year-old Djokovic has not played since losing in the last 16 at Indian Wells in March. He pulled out of tournaments in Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid while recovering from a shoulder injury.

Three-time champion Iga Swiatek battled into the third round of the women’s tournament with a 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win over Caty McNally.

Swiatek dropped serve in the opening game at the Foro Italico but rattled off the next six to seize control against the 63rd-ranked American.

The Pole seemed on course for a routine victory when she pulled 4-2 in front in the second set, but McNally twice broke Swiatek as the Pole served for the match and then snatched the tie-break.

Swiatek again nudged ahead with a break for a 3-1 lead in the decider. McNally clawed herself level at 3-all before Swiatek took the final three games to book her place in the next round, to her visible relief.

Swiatek will play US 28th seed Emma Navarro or Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto this weekend for a place in the last 16.

The Pole suffered her earliest exit in five appearances in Madrid last month when she retired in third round due to a viral illness. She was knocked out at the same stage in Rome last year as defending champion. Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, has not won a clay tournament since capturing the last of her four French Open titles in 2024.

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines advanced with a straight-sets win over Chinese 31st seed Wang Xinyu.

Eala beat Xinyu 6-4, 6-3 to follow up her three-set victory over Magdalena French in the opening round and put together consecutive clay-court victories for the first time since the qualifying rounds for the 2024 French Open.

Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka said Thursday that she hoped she would be able to play tennis under the Belarusian flag after the IOC lifted its ban on the country’s athletes competing in the Olympics.

World number one Sabalenka has had to compete under a neutral banner as a consequence of her country’s support for Russia following its ally’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Asked whether the women’s tour would drop the ban on her representing her country, Sabalenka said: “I really hope they’re going to give us our flag back.”

“I just know how much of an inspiration I am for young kids, I know that, and they send me messages, and I just want them to feel confident about no matter where you come from you can make it all the way to the top,” said Sabalenka at the Italian Open in Rome.

“For me representing such a small country, and the hard work that I had to do to get to the top, it’s just like, guys, it’s incredible, it’s a small country, and to make it all the way here, it means a lot to me.

“I would be super proud to represent Belarus.”

Sabalenka was speaking to reporters after sweeping aside Barbora Krejcikova 6-2, 6-3 at the Foro Italico, where she is aiming to win for the first time.

Agencies