Andy Murray improved his record on clay this year to 10-0 with a 6-4, 6-3 win over 38th-ranked Jeremy Chardy on Wednesday at the Italian Open.
The third-seeded Murray had considered withdrawing at the Foro Italico because of fatigue after his perfect start to the clay-court season, but his game showed no signs of wear.
Murray committed only 10 unforced errors to Chardy’s 26.
In the past two weeks, Murray won his first clay title at the Munich Open, and then beat Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s Madrid Open final for his first Masters trophy on the surface.
Murray has never been past the semifinals in Rome and is looking to peak at the French Open, which starts in less than two weeks.
Also, 16th-seeded John Isner served 11 aces in a 7-6 (6), 6-4 win over Leonardo Mayer of Argentina; and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain beat Ukrainian qualifier Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 6-3.
Seven-time Rome champion Nadal was playing Turkish qualifier Marsel Ilhan, while Roger Federer was to play Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay.
In women’s play, second-seeded Simona Halep breezed past Alison Riske of the United States 6-3, 6-0.
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