- ROME: Coming off a win over Rafael Nadal in Madrid last week, Fernando Verdasco eased into the second round of the Italian Open on yesterday when Alexandr Dolgopolov retired with a stomach ache.
After the 16th-ranked Verdasco won the first set 6-0, Dolgopolov called for the trainer then clutched his stomach as he went over to shake Verdasco’s hand and concede.
On a clear but windy day at the Foro Italico, 13th-seeded Gael Monfils also beat Alex Bogomolov Jr. of Russia 6-4, 6-1.
In women’s action, Anabel Madinah Garrigues of Spain defeated Zheng Jie of China 6-2, 6-1, and Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa eliminated Jarmila Gajdosova of Australia, 6-4, 7-6 (3).
This tournament is the last major clay-court warmup for the French Open, which starts in two weeks.