Novak Djokovic gets clay campaign back on track while Kyle Edmund falls to Fabio Fognini

Shahida Jacobs
Novak Djokovic in action

Novak Djokovic brushed aside Taylor Fritz to book his place in the third round of the Madrid Open while Fabio Fognini got the better of Kyle Edmund.

Having suffered a shock loss to Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-final of the Monte-Carlo Masters, all eyes were on Djokovic to see if it was just a blip.

And it appears so as the world No 1 steamrolled Fritz 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and four minutes, courtesy one break of serve in the first set and two in the second.

Sixteenth seed Marco Cecchinato suffered a first-round exit as the Italian was beaten by Diego Schwartzman, who won 6-0, 4-6, 6-1.

Former Madrid Open finalist Stan Wawrinka produced a solid showing as he beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2, 6-3 to earn a second-round clash against Guido Pella, who beat Djokovic’s Monte-Carlo conqueror Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.

Monte-Carlo champion Fognini consigned British No 1 Edmund to a third consecutive loss on the ATP Tour as the 24-year-old suffered a 6-4, 6-4 defeat.

It was a slow start from both players as the match started with consecutive breaks of serve before Fognini got the decisive break in game nine while two breaks in the second set earned the Italian the win.

Edmund lost in the first round Munich last week and in the second round in Monte-Carlo.

David Goffin was also a surprise early casualty as the Belgian went down 6-4, 7-5 to Marton Fucsovics while Hubert Hurkacz beat Alex De Minaur 6-3, 6-4.

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