# Tennis: Alexander Zverev eased into the third round of the Italian Open on Friday after comfortably dealing with fellow German Daniel Altmaier in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. Zverev is in good form having reached the final in Madrid last weekend and he is again on the other side of the draw to red-hot favourite Jannik Sinner. The 29-year-old has been beaten by Sinner in four Masters 1000 events this year and will have his work cut out if he is to add to his 2017 and 2024 titles in Rome.
Meanwhile Novak Djokovic slumped to an early elimination from the tournament, crumbling to a second-round defeat at the hands of qualifier Dino Prizmic. His performance now leaves question marks about his physical condition ahead of Roland Garros. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, was making his comeback from a shoulder injury in the last big tournament before the French Open, which starts later this month. In a post-match interview the Slovakian great said he can’t recall the last time in the last couple of years of preparation where he didn’t have any physical issues coming into a tournament.