Cameron Norrie start by winning in Rome against Alexandre Muller
World number 13 Norrie won 6-2 6-3 at the Foro Italico in Rome.
Norrie, 27, will play Australia's Alex de Minaur or Hungary's Marton Fucsovics in the third round on Sunday.
In the women's draw, two-time defending champion and world number one Iga Swiatek thrashed Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0 6-0.
Poland's Swiatek, champion in Rome in 2021 and 2022, will face American 28th seed Bernarda Pera or Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko in the third round after beating 2021 French Open runner-up Pavlyuchenkova in just 67 minutes.
Tunisian fourth seed Ons Jabeur was beaten 6-1 6-4 by Spain's Paula Badosa in her first match since injuring her calf last month.
Elsewhere on Friday, home favourite and eighth seed Jannik Sinner defeated Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1 6-4.
The 21-year-old Italian, who will face either Alexander Shevchenko or Sebastian Baez in the last 32, did not drop a point on his serve in the first set.
There has not been an Italian winner of men's singles since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
0 Comment