Italian Open: World No. 6 Andrey Rublev kicks off busy day of action with straight-sets win over Alex Molcan

The bottom half of the draw kicked into action in the second round of the Italian Open in Rome on Saturday afternoon as world No. 6 Andrey Rublev swept past Slovak Alex Molcan in straight sets, 6-3 6-4. Molcan kept things tight, saving two of three break points in the first set and making just one unforced error, but was overcome in the decisive points.

Ad Rublev's two breaks of serve, one in each set, proved the difference in the 79-minute clash. ATP RomeDjokovic 'honoured' to play in front of 'avid tennis fan' Mourinho at Italian Open3 HOURS AGO Shortly after the match concluded, rain stopped play to delay the remainder of the afternoon's matches. Molcan had edged past Italian qualifier Stefano Napolitano in the first round, while Rublev was handed a bye as a top seed.

Their only previous match, also on clay in the semi-finals of the Banja Luka event in Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier this year, went the way of the Russian in straight sets. The clay-court event in Rome is considered one of the key indicators of a player’s hopes of winning the French Open, along with the Monte-Carlo Masters, and the Madrid Open. Novak Djokovic battles past Tomas Martin Etcheverry in Italian Open Novak Djokovic «honoured» to play in front of football legend Jose Mourinho Holger Rune expects Italian Open clash with home favourite Fabio Fognini to be “wild” With Rublev having won in Monte-Carlo, he is eyeing a famous double that should set him up well for Roland-Garros.

Argentinian Guido Pella or Spain's No. 27 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will face Rublev in the next round. Britain's Dan Evans was leading Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena by one set to love, while Brazilian Thiago Monteiro held the same advantage over Croatian Borna