Novak Djokovic made a successful return to competitive tennis on Wednesday, defeating wildcard Salvatore Caruso 6-3 6-2 in the second round of the Italian Open in Rome. The world number one was playing his first match since being disqualified from the US Open for accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball.
Djokovic, a four-time champion in Rome, faced no break points and broke Caruso's serve three times to seal victory in just over an hour. The match was played behind closed doors at the Foro Italico due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking after the match, Djokovic acknowledged his on-court outbursts but stopped short of guaranteeing he would never repeat the US Open incident. 'I understand I have outbursts and this is the personality and the player that I have always been,' he said. 'I cannot promise or guarantee I will never ever do anything similar to that in my life.'
The Serbian will face either compatriot Filip Krajinovic or Italian Marco Cecchinato in the last 16. Djokovic has won 27 of his 28 matches this year and will continue his preparations for the French Open, which begins on 27 September.
