Rafael Nadal serves in his match against Pablo Carreno Busta on Wednesday in Rome, Italy. Photo: VCG

 

Defending champion ­Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic made winning returns at the Italian Open on Wednesday with the top two men's seeds easing into the third round of the clay-court tournament in Rome.

Nine-time winner Nadal swept aside fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 6-1 in his first match in over six months, played behind closed doors at the Foro Italico.

The world No.2 has not played since winning in Acapulco at the end of February, opting to skip the US hard court tour amid coronavirus concerns.

"It was a good feeling going out there," said 34-year-old ­Nadal. 

"Not beautiful, the feeling playing without the spectators, because the energy of the fans is impossible to describe. 

"But for me, at least, today was a very positive comeback."

Nadal only conceded one break point chance to his 18th-ranked rival who showed signs of tiredness having reached the semifinals of the US Open.

Nadal is building towards his bid for a 13th French Open title, although he stressed, "I never take Rome like preparation for nothing else."

Earlier, Djokovic eased past Italian wild card entry Salvatore Caruso 6-3, 6-2 after his unbeaten record this season was ended with a US Open last-16 default for accidently striking a line judge with a ball hit in frustration.

"I didn't feel that I had any mental or emotional blockages or any dramas playing a match today," said the world No.1.

Djokovic, who had said he had learned a "big lesson" was keen to move on in Rome.

The 33-year-old playfully greeted an imaginary crowd in an empty Central Court because of strict coronavirus measures. Only some noisy workers managed to unnerve the 17-time Grand Slam ­winner ­after missing break points.

He next plays 29th-ranked fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic for a place in the quarterfinals.

Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas fell to Italian teenager Jannik Sinner 6-1, 6-7 (9/11), 6-2, with sixth-seeded Belgian David Goffin also exiting 6-2, 6-2 to Croatia's Marin Cilic.

Top women's seed Simona Halep returned a month after winning in Prague to ease past 99th-ranked Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-4.

US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka shrugged off the move from hard court to the clay surface to beat American Venus Williams 7-6 (9/7), 6-2, in their first-round match.

Swiss sixth seed ­Belinda Bencic fell 6-3, 6-1 in her second-­round match to Montenegro's 86th-ranked Danka Kovinic.