Former world number four Juan Martin del Potro has reached the second-round of the Rome Masters. The 28-year-old defeated 10th-seed Grigor Dimitrov 3-6 6-2 6-3. It was Monday's match of the day in Rome. del Potro won the last three games of the third set to clinch the win over Dimitrov. Argentina's del Potro fired seven aces and converted four of his eleven break-point chances in the match. The match came to an end after two hours and eight minutes of action.
Del Potro has been dominant thus far in his career against Dimitrov. The two have played five matches against each other, with del Potro having a 5-0 head-to-head record over the 26-year-old.
Next up: Edmund
Rising British tennis player Kyle Edmund has also extended his campaign at the Rome Masters. The 22-year-old had some issues against Joao Sousa of Portugal, but lost just seven games on his way to defeating the world number 51 in just over an hour of action, 6-3 6-4.
Edmund found himself trailing 4-3 to Sousa in the second set after taking the opener. That was when he went on to win three games in a row and seal the win. The world number 53 from Great Britain hit 12 aces in his first-ever matchup against Sousa. Edmund is now set to face Juan Martin del Potro in round two. The two have never met before on the ATP tour.
An all-American clash
Ryan Harrison of the United States prevailed over fellow compatriot Jared Donaldson in the last men's singles match of the day at the Rome Masters.
Harrison, 25, was on a brink of elimination after being down 2-6 3-5 to Donaldson. The 25-year-old turned the clash around eventually, as Donaldson wasn't able to hold on and clinch the win 2-6 7-6 (7-0) 6-3.
Wins for Almagro and Mayer
Qualifier Nicolas Almagro recorded his third win at this year's Rome Masters. After two wins in qualifying, the Spaniard defeated local player Andreas Seppi in the main draw of the event 7-6 (8-6) 6-3.
14-time Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal will be Almagro's next opponent in Rome.
German world number 46 (Mayer) broke the serve of Brazil's Monteiro early on in both sets, and then held serve. Mayer was dominant on his first serve, winning 27 of 30 points played.
