Aljaz Bedene sets up second-round clash with Novak Djokovic in Rome

Aljaz Bedene will face Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome after his Italian opponent Gianluca Mager retired in the third set of their first-round encounter.

Eurosport

Image credit: TNT Sports

British number three Bedene was leading 6-7 (3/7) 6-4 3-0 when Mager was forced to retire through injury.

Bedene had a great chance to clinch the first set when he broke Mager's serve to go 6-5 ahead, but his opponent hit back to take it to a tie-break before going on to win the set.

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The 27-year-old won the second set to level things up and raced into a 3-0 lead in the third before Mager withdrew.

Results from the Italian Open Men's Singles Round 1 matches

Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) beat Robin Haase (Netherlands) 6-3 7-5

Viktor Troicki (Serbia) beat Stefano Napolitano (Italy) 7-6(1) 6-2

9-David Goffin (Belgium) beat Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4

Aljaz Bedene (Britain) beat Gianluca Mager (Italy) 6-7(3) 6-4 3-0 (Mager retired)

12-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Mischa Zverev (Germany) 7-6(7) 6-4

Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) beat Bernard Tomic (Australia) 6-7(8) 6-1 6-4

Sam Querrey (U.S.) beat 11-Lucas Pouille (France) 7-6(6) 7-6(8)

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