43:I[29208,["/_next/static/chunks/1h78v25qrnji2.js","/_next/static/chunks/1yt446igj3lq7.js","/_next/static/chunks/2sibmcs9-r_ve.js","/_next/static/chunks/2819pr828u0eu.js","/_next/static/chunks/3ppdga6kguk23.js","/_next/static/chunks/3g9zruwz8zub0.js","/_next/static/chunks/2vokt6hd0g8h5.js","/_next/static/chunks/16y6s8wq7d-vp.js","/_next/static/chunks/0vxfoo63cb-8_.js","/_next/static/chunks/2lzn5wiv6t3cz.js","/_next/static/chunks/41u_8ogfbuc3t.js","/_next/static/chunks/0ccxbn-eug1_t.js"],"default"] 3b:Tb81,

ROME (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz returned from a brief injury layoff and didn't appear to have any issues during a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic at the Italian Open on Friday.

The third-ranked Alcaraz withdrew from the Madrid Open last month due to an upper right leg ailment that bothered him during the Barcelona Open final. He also had a left leg injury.

Against Lajovic, Alcaraz wore a long black brace that covered the upper portion of his right leg and stretched down to just below his knee.

“The body felt great,” Alcaraz said. “I just moved well. I made a few good sprints today without any pain. ... It was a test for me so I think I passed the test today.”

“It was a great performance, great level, which was surprising for me a little bit, but just really happy for that,” Alcaraz added.

Alcaraz won the opening four games but dropped his serve when he served for the first set at 5-2. The Spaniard broke back in the next game to close it out, showing off his speed on the clay court at the Foro Italico when he ran down a drop shot and produced a backhand winner on one key point.

Alcaraz also went ahead early in the second set. He finished with the same number of winners as unforced errors — 24.

Alcaraz, who won the Monte Carlo Masters in April, improved to 10-1 on clay this season. He’ll next face either 31st-seeded Alex Michelsen or Laslo Djere.

A four-time Grand Slam champion, Alcaraz is preparing to defend his title at the French Open, which starts May 25.

The Rome tournament also marks the return of top-ranked Jannik Sinner from a three-month doping ban.

Sinner and Alcaraz are in opposite sides of the draw.

Sinner opens against 99th-ranked Mariano Navone on Saturday.

In the women’s tournament, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka opened with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Anastasia Potapova.

Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff in the Madrid final last weekend.

In a night match, Gauff needed to rally for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory over 156th-ranked Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko.

The 18-year-old Mboko, a semifinalist at the Wimbledon and U.S. Open junior tournaments in 2022, gave Gauff trouble at the start with her solid baseline game.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

3c:Tb81,

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