Alcaraz, who also defeated Djere in April en route to the final in Barcelona, converted four of nine break points he earned in an ultimately comfortable one-hour, 44-minute victory, ATP reports.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With his Tour-leading 26th win of the season, the 22-year-old booked a fourth-round meeting with 23rd seed Karen Khachanov, who earlier sunk home favourite Francesco Passaro 6-3, 6-0.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Alcaraz was slow to get going on Campo Centrale, but he dug deep before accelerating past an opponent, who struggled with a right arm injury for much of the match, and produced a classy tie-break, highlighted by a stunning forehand slice winner from a seemingly impossible position to wrap up the opening set.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"He played really solid in the first set. I didn\u2019t find the way to [stop him], that\u2019s how tough it was at the beginning. He was serving for the first set and I just thought that I had to stay there, mentally strong, and wait for my chances... I was just happy to get the first set.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Djere received treatment from the physio on his troublesome arm, but the injury began to affect the Serbian. He quickly fell a double-break behind, and Alcaraz was quick to wrap up a win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn the second set I think I was playing better. He made a few mistakes that I tried to make the most of, and I am really happy,\" Alcaraz said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Alcaraz will hope to build on solid-yet-unspectacular start in Rome after he missed Madrid due to an adductor injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn the second set I think I was playing better. He made a few mistakes that I tried to make the most of, and I am really happy,\" Alcaraz said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> LIVE Cricket Score<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n