ROME, May 17, 2018 (News Wires) - Rafael Nadal got his claycourt season back on track with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Bosnian Damir Dzumhur to reach the third round of the Italian Open, while sixth-seed Dominic Thiem suffered an early exit. Nadal, who lost his world Number one ranking after his 14-match winning run on clay was snapped by Thiem in the Madrid Open quarterfinals last week, was back to his best as he wrapped up victory with a blistering forehand winner. "It was important, after a loss in Madrid, to come back strong," the 31-year-old, who received a bye in the opening round, said. "And that's what I did today. "I went on court with the right intensity. I don't know how many mistakes I made, but not many. I also had control, more or less, of a high percentage of the points. That was the way that I want to play." The Spaniard can reclaim the world number one ranking from Roger Federer if he wins a record-extending eighth title in Rome this week. Thiem, who finished runner-up in Madrid on Sunday, struggled to find his rhythm in a 6-4 1-6 6-3 defeat by Fabio Fognini. World number 21 Fognini, backed by a partisan Italian crowd, frustrated Thiem with well-placed lobs and touch volleys and went on to record his first win over the Austrian in three meetings. Novak Djokovic, a four-time winner in Rome, powered into the third round with a convincing 6-4 6-2 win over Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili. The Serb will have opportunity to reach his first quarterfinal of the season on Thursday, when he faces Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Defending champion Alexander Zverev stayed focused on his way to a 7-5 6-2 win over Italian wildcard Matteo Berrettini. The 21-year-old German recorded his 10th consecutive victory on clay, a streak which includes back-to-back title runs in Munich and Madrid. He will now take on British number one Kyle Edmund, who saved the only break point he faced in a 6-2 7-6(3) victory over France's Lucas Pouille. Japan's Kei Nishikori denied Grigor Dimitrov a 27th birthday win to progress to the third round, rallying back from a set down to beat the world number four 6-7(4) 7-5 6-4. Meanwhile, world No 1 Simona Halep produced a ruthless display to see off Japan's Naomi Osaka 6-1 6-0 in the second round of the Italian Open. Romanian Halep was forced to save four break points in her opening service game for 1-1 but then went on to claim 12 consecutive games to avenge her Indian Wells loss to eventual champion Osaka in March. The 20-year-old Osaka failed to convert any of her six break-point opportunities before conceding the match in just under an hour. "I just tried to build my points, to build a little bit of space and open the court, and tried to make winners," Halep said. "It's tough to make winners on this court, for me, but it's good when I can build the point. I just want to play like today." Halep will next meet American Madison Keys, who clinched a 7-6(2) 7-6(0) win over Croatian qualifier Donna Vekic. Second seed Caroline Wozniacki began her campaign with a comfortable 6-1 6-4 victory over Belgian Alison van Uytvanck. The 27-year-old Dane, chasing her first claycourt title since 2011, will face 15th seed Anastasija Sevastova for a place in the quarterfinals. A decade after they last met in Rome, Maria Sharapova once again did enough to secure a victory over Dominika Cibulkova in three sets. Former world No 1 Sharapova struck 41 winners as she rallied back from a set down to edge her Slovakian opponent 3-6 6-4 6-2 in a thrilling two and a half hour contest.
