Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka make triumphant start to Italian Open

ROME: Spanish Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his Italian Open campaign with a straight-set victory over Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic, while top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka outclassed Russia's Anastasia Potapova here on Friday.

Alcaraz made a strong comeback after he sustained a thigh injury in the final of the Barcelona Open, which he lost to Holger Rune last month.

The Spaniard started the game aggressively, leading 4-0 in the first set. Lajovic won the next three, but Alcaraz was good enough to win the first one comfortably.

The four-time Grand Slam winner closed out the showdown in a style with again leading 3-0 and finishing off three games ahead.

"Today was a really good day in the office, hopefully tomorrow and Sunday is going to be better," said Alcaraz, who beat Lajovic 6-3, 6-3.

The 22-year-old will face either American Alex Michelsen or Serbia's Laslo Djere in the round of 32.

World number one Sabalenka secured an equally emphatic victory over Potapova, beating the Russian 6-2, 6-2 to secure a place in the third round.  

The match lasted just an hour as last year's finalist swept past the Russian comfortably.

"I'd say that the top player is always a favourite," said a confident Sabalenka.

"I know that if I bring my best game and my fight spirit on court, I know that I can win this tournament."

Sabalenka will compete against Sofia Kenin of the United States in the next round, who beat another Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.