Defending champion Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic made winning returns at the Italian Open on Wednesday with the top two men’s seeds easing into the third round of the clay-court tournament in Rome. Nine-time winner Nadal swept aside fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 6-1 in his first match in over six months, played behind closed doors at the Foro Italico. The world number two has not played since winning in Acapulco at the end of February, opting to skip the US hard court tour amid coronavirus concerns.

“It was a good feeling going out there,” said 34-year-old Nadal. 

“Not beautiful, the feeling playing without the spectators, because the energy of the fans is impossible to describe. 

“But for me, at least, today was a very positive comeback. 

“I played a very solid match and very serious and doing a lot of things very well, so very happy.”

Nadal only conceded one break point chance to his 18th-ranked rival who showed signs of tiredness having reached the semi-finals of the US Open.

Nadal is building towards his bid for a 13th French Open title, although he stressed: “I never take Rome like preparation for nothing else.”

Earlier, Djokovic eased past Italian wild card entry Salvatore Caruso 6-3, 6-2 after his unbeaten record this season was ended with a US Open last 16 default for accidently striking a line judge with a ball hit in frustration.

“I didn’t feel that I had any mental or emotional blockages or any dramas playing a match today,” said the world number one.

Djokovic, who had said he had learned a “big lesson” was keen to move on in Rome.

The 33-year-old playfully greeted an imaginary crowd in an empty Central Court because of strict coronavirus measures. 

Only some noisy workers managed to unnerve the 17-time Grand Slam winner after missing break points.

“I don’t know who it was, but it was noise coming from there during the points.

“That’s the only thing that we, I and Caruso, also told chair umpire.”

Djokovic continued where he left off before his US Open exit, having won the Cincinnati Masters on the same Flushing Meadows courts.

“It was a very good test for me. I’m very pleased with the way I handled myself in important moments,” said Djokovic, who has reached nine finals in Rome and won four.

He next plays 29th-ranked fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic for a place in the quarter-finals.

– Halep, Azarenka advance –

Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas fell to Italian teenager Jannik Sinner 6-1, 6-7 (9/11), 6-2, with sixth seeded Belgian David Goffin also exiting 6-2, 6-2 to Croatia’s Marin Cilic.

Top women’s seed Simona Halep returned a month after winning in Prague to ease past 99th-ranked Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-4.

“It was a little bit difficult to get the rhythm and to get relaxed,” said the 28-year-old Romanian, who skipped the US Open but is warming up for a bid for a second French Open title later this month.

The world number two, a two-time Rome finalist, next meets either American Amanda Anisimova or Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine.

US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka shrugged off the move from hard court to the clay surface to beat American Venus Williams 7-6 (9/7), 6-2, in their first round match.

Promoted

Belarusian Azarenka will play third seeded American Sofia Kenin, the reigning Australian Open champion, for a place in the third round.

Swiss sixth seed Belinda Bencic fell 6-3, 6-1 in her second round match to Montenegro’s 86th-ranked Danka Kovinic.