"I don't call Rome my + second home + for nothing, here I can play with confidence", smiled the Serb, five-time winner and outgoing finalist on the banks of the Tiber, during a post-match press conference almost exclusively in Italian, to the delight of the transalpine press.

"Djoko", present for sixteen years in a row at the Masters 1000 in Rome, did not really have to force to win his 60th victory at Foro Italico, he who must reach the semi-finals if he wants to keep his place of N .1 world coveted by Daniil Medvedev.

Even if a few slips and some delays in positioning pointed to the adjustments remaining to be made less than two weeks from Roland-Garros (May 22-June 5), after a first quarter almost at a standstill due to his incredible expulsion from 'Australia.

After a break on each side at the start of the match, Djokovic gradually picked up speed to take the Russian's face-off again and lead 5-3, taking advantage of a totally missed smash from him.

After pocketing the first set, concluding with a volley at the net the best point of the match, he then unrolled to conclude in 1h30.

"I can play better, I know that, but for a start it's fine," commented "Djoko".

the beginnings of Jabeur

He will meet in eighth his compatriot Laslo Djere (59th), whom he painfully beat last month in Belgrade, or an old acquaintance with the Swiss Stan Wawrinka (361st), winner Monday of his first match for fifteen months after a long absence on injury.

In the quarters, he could find the one he had beaten in the final during his fifth and last Roman victory, in 2020: Diego Schwartzman, seeded N.12.

Tunisian Ons Jabeur opposed to Romanian Sorana Cirstea, May 10, 2022 at Foro Italico in Rome Alberto PIZZOLI AFP

The Argentinian will however have to raise his level if he wants his revenge.

He had to fight in the 1st round by erasing two match points before bringing the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic to heel 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/3) in 2h45.

In the absence of the phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal will launch his quest for an eleventh crown on Wednesday with a second round against the American John Isner (27th), qualified on Tuesday by dominating the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (49th) 6-4 , 6-3.

On the women's side, the finalist from Madrid, the American Jessica Pegula (seeded N.13) suffered to pass the 1st round at the expense of the Russian Liudmila Samsonova (25th in the world) in three sets 4-6, 6-3 , 6-4.

She will find in the 2nd round Anhelina Kalinina, an opponent she has already beaten twice this year, at the Australian Open then in Miami.

In the evening is expected the winner of Madrid, the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (seeded N.9), the first Arab player titled in WTA 1000, the equivalent of the Masters 1000 for women, against the Romanian Sorana Cirstea (26th).

And on Wednesday it will be the turn of world No.1 Iga Swiatek to launch her Roman week.

The Polish, defending champion, remains on four won tournaments and 23 consecutive victories.

She will be opposed in the second round to the Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse (57th).

© 2022 AFP