Shapovalov earns Rome meeting with Djokovic

Canadian Denis Shapovalov set up a clash with world number one Novak Djokovic when he beat Pablo Carreno Busta in straight sets in his first round match at the Italian Open on Monday.

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 15, 2019 Canada's Denis Shapovalov celebrates during his first round match against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff. (Reuters)
Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 15, 2019 Canada's Denis Shapovalov celebrates during his first round match against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff. (Reuters)

The 20-year-old, who last year became the youngest player to reach the top 30 since 2005, put a four-match losing streak behind him as he beat the Spaniard 6-3 7-6(5).

France's 15th seed Gael Monfils lost 6-3 6-1 to Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas, in 61 minutes.

Fernando Verdasco produced a remarkable comeback to beat Britain's Kyle Edmund 4-6 6-4 6-2. After losing the first set and trailing 4-1 in the second, the Spaniard won 10 games out of the next 13 to claim the victory.

Italian Fabio Fognini continued his progress towards breaking into the world's top 10 with a 6-3 6-4 win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The 10th seed outmanoeuvred the Frenchman in baseline rallies to win in one hour and 23 minutes.

Serena Williams made a winning return from injury beating Swedish qualifier Rebecca Petersen 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the second round, where she will play either her older sister Venus, who received a wild card entry to the tournament she won in 1999, or Belgian Elise Mertens.

Reuters