Djokovic returns from injury with win
The world number two shows no signs of pain as he beats Czech Radek Stepanek in straight sets at the Italian Open.
Novak Djokovic marked his return from a right wrist injury by beating Czech veteran Radek Stepanek 6-3, 7-5 in the second round of the Italian Open.
With both new coach Boris Becker and long-time adviser Marian Vajda on hand, Djokovic showed no signs of pain after withdrawing from last week’s Madrid Open.
The second-ranked Serb’s only trouble came as he attempted to close the match out, dropping his serve twice late in the second set before eventually finishing it off.
Djokovic, a two-time Rome champion, committed just nine unforced errors to Stepanek’s 27.
In first-round women’s play, Italian wild-card entry Camila Giorgi upset ninth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 7-6 (2) and 10th-seeded Sara Errani of Italy eliminated Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa 7-5, 6-3.