Live Jack Draper vs Vit Kopriva: Score and latest updates from Italian Open
Draper silenced the Italian crowd in his opening encounter on Friday, beating home favourite Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-4 in 78 minutes. The fifth seed, who had a first-round bye, looked like he had picked up from where he left off in Madrid, racing through the first set in 24 minutes after breaking the Italian three times. The Briton was made to work a little harder in the second set however but managed to see out the match in straights.
Speaking after, Draper said: 'I think I came out really well. I think mentally I knew it was going to be a little bit difficult and I'm glad about how I played in certain moments. I think I needed a match here to feel like I was strong again and I just think it was a really good mental performance today.'
The British No 1 is currently one of the most in-form players on the ATP Tour following his Indian Wells title in March and his runner-up showing in Madrid last month. Kopriva has played most of his tennis on the Challenger circuit this year and won a title on clay, in Naples in March. Ironically, the 27-year-old Czech beat Darderi in that final.
Kopriva also made it to the quarter-finals in Marrakech, an ATP 250, last month. In Rome, the world No 92 had to come through qualifying which means he has a total of four matches under his belt coming into this contest with Draper.
The pair met last year in Munich on the clay and that went the way of the Briton in three sets. That was their only meeting on the ATP Tour.
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