ROME (AP) — Novak Djokovic behaved higher Wednesday in his first match since being defaulted from the U.S. Open.

The highest-ranked Serb was largely courteous with the chair umpire and had no interplay with the road judges throughout a 6-3, 6-2 win over native wild-card entry Salvatore Caruso in his opening match on the Italian Open.

The efficiency got here in sharp distinction to the scene in New York 10 days in the past, when Djokovic was disqualified for unintentionally hitting a line choose within the throat with a ball. Djokovic stated earlier this week that the incident taught him ”an enormous lesson.”

”I used to be truly trying ahead to (enjoying once more) as quickly as attainable after what occurred in New York,” Djokovic stated. ”As a result of I really feel just like the sentiment on the courtroom must be constructive, and I must form of take away something that may presumably trigger any form of points to me – if there’s something.”

When the umpire got here down to examine a ball mark on the purple clay early within the first set and made an overrule in Caruso’s favor, Djokovic simply replied, ”Yup,” and rubbed out the mark together with his purple sneaker.

When Caruso impressed him – the Italian hit 13 winners to Djokovic’s 12 – Djokovic stated, ”Bravo.”

”It was a sizzling day in opposition to Caruso who already performed three matches right here, a clay courtroom specialist. It was an excellent check for me,” Djokovic stated. ”I am more than happy with the best way I dealt with myself in essential moments.”

Djokovic’s solely testy second got here in the course of the third recreation of the second set, which went to deuce seven instances earlier than Djokovic lastly broke Caruso’s serve. As the sport wore on, Djokovic appeared bothered by crowd noise, regardless that the Foro Italico is empty of followers this 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The one individuals contained in the stadium have been coaches and others working on the event.

”Which of them?” the umpire requested Djokovic, attempting to determine who was bothering him.

Djokovic replied curtly: ”There’s 10 individuals within the stands.”

Afterward, Djokovic defined: ”It was very, very quiet, which may be very uncommon to what we’re used to right here in Rome, which has one of many loudest and most energetic crowd atmospheres on the tour. However there was someone within the hall of the stadium that was speaking – about 5, six individuals.”

After successful, Djokovic laughed to himself as he carried out his common on-court celebration, waving his arms towards all 4 sides of the Campo Centrale stands.

”I miss the gang,” he stated. ”Italy has a pleasant tennis custom and this event has been round for a few years. It is just a little unusual.”

Djokovic, a four-time Rome champion, subsequent faces both Italian qualifier Marco Cecchinato or Filip Krajinovic.

Later, nine-time Rome champion Rafael Nadal was to make his return to competitors after a seven-month absence in opposition to Pablo Carreno Busta.

Additionally within the second spherical, Rome resident Matteo Berrettini defeated Argentina Federico Coria 7-5, 6-1, Marin Cilic beat sixth-seeded David Goffin 6-2, 6-2, and Italian wild-card entry Stefano Travaglia eradicated U.S. Open quarterfinalist Borna Coric 7-6 (2), 7-5.

Within the ladies’s event, top-seeded Simona Halep beat Italian wild-card entry Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-4, final 12 months’s semifinalist Kiki Bertens defeated Polona Hercog 6-2, 6-4, and Montenegrin qualifier Danka Kovinic eradicated sixth-seeded Belinda Bencic 6-3, 6-1.

The clay-court occasion, which was rescheduled from Could due to the pandemic, is a vital warmup for the rescheduled French Open, which begins in 11 days.

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Extra AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports activities

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Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AndrewDampf