ROMA – Carlos Alcalaz returned from a brief injury layoff in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Serbian qualifier Dusan Rajovic at the Italian Open on Friday.
Third place Alcaraz withdrew from the Madrid Open last month due to an illness in the upper right leg that bothered him at the Barcelona Open Finals. He also suffered a left leg injury.
Against Rajovic, Alkaraz wore a long black brace that covered the top of his right leg and stretched just below his knees.
Alcaraz won the opening four games but dropped his serve as he tried to close the first set 5-2. The Spaniards returned in the next game to win the set, running a drop shot at Clay Court in Italico and showed off their speed at Clay Court when they scored the backhand winner.
He also advanced early in the second set and finished the victory.
Alcaraz, who won the Monte Carlo Masters in April, improved to 10-1 with Clay this season. He then faces 31st seed Alex Michaelsen or Laslo Dajere.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz is preparing to defend his title at the French Open, which starts on May 25th.
The Rome Tournament also marks the return of top-ranked Jannik Sinner from a three-month doping ban. The Sinner will open on Saturday against Mariano Navone, ranked 99th.
The sinner and Alkaraz are on the other side of the draw.
In the women’s tournament, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka beat Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 6-2.