Coming off a win over Rafael Nadal in Madrid last week, Fernando Verdasco eased into the second round of the Italian Open on Monday when Alexandr Dolgopolov retired with a stomach ache.
After the 16th-ranked Verdasco won the first set 6-0, Dolgopolov called for the trainer then clutched his stomach as he went over to shake Verdasco's hand and concede.
On a clear but windy day at the Foro Italico, 13th-seeded Gael Monfils also beat Alex Bogomolov Jr. of Russia 6-4, 6-1.
Ninth-seeded John Isner overcame a slow start to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2. The 6-foot-9 American looked headed for an early exit before Kohlschreiber lost control when he was serving for the match at 5-4 in the second. Isner then broke again in the opening game of the third and cruised from there.
This tournament is the last major clay-court warm-up for the French Open, which starts in two weeks.
Twelfth-seeded Nicolas Almagro defeated Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-2, 3-6, 6-0; and Australian teenager Bernard Tomic rallied past Colombian qualifier Santiago Giraldo 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to set up a meeting with top-ranked Novak Djokovic on Tuesday night.
Others advancing included David Nalbandian of Argentina, Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland and Italian wild card Fabio Fognini.
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