ATP: Dolgopolov in Rome not a touchstone for Djokovic

Novak Djokovic stands in the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome: the former world number one defeated Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov in two sets.

Novak Djokovic has won everything, really everything in his career (well: not the title in Cincinnati yet). So he could go to a pressure-free tennis match, especially in Rome, where the Serb has already travelled four times to Roland Garros as tournament winner.

In fact, Djokovic is already under a lot of pressure in the eternal city these days, as he has to defend the 600 points of last year’s final, which he had lost to Alexander Zverev. The fact that Alexandr Dolgopolov would not have to overcome an insurmountable hurdle was already suggested by the balance of the two: five matches, five victories by Djokovic.

The sixth followed on Monday afternoon in Foro Italico, after less than an hour the 6:1, 6:3 victory was certain. That the second task in Rome with either Filippo Baldi or Nikoloz Basilashvili is also very solvable, after which John Isner, a man against whom Djokovic must basically be considered a favourite: no bad prospects.

Whereby: The American has exactly what Dolgopolov is selling, which is an outstanding win. Against the Ukrainian, Djokovic was rarely in trouble, never out of balance, and also acted offensively enough in the decisive phases. He recently showed in Madrid that Novak Djokovic is slowly gaining momentum again: There, the twelve-time major winner was able to defeat Kei Nishikori in round one.

Following his victory, Djokovic told SKY in an interview that he must remain patient. This phase of his career is important for him, after all it has only ever gone uphill.

The prospects that things will continue positively in Rome are not bad.

Here the single tableau of the men in Rome