Grigor Dimitrov solid in Rome victory over Ivo Karlovic

Grigor Dimitrov advanced to the third round of the Rome Masters this afternoon with a straight-sets victory over Ivo Karlovic.

The Bulgarian didn't offer his opponent a single break point throughout and was clinical when it mattered in the Italian capital.

Neither man wobbled once on serve in the opener and a tie-break was needed to decide the set. It was won by 12th seed Dimitrov as he broke Karlovic's serve three times en route to a 7-3 success.

He then snapped Karlovic's serve in the third game of the second set before claiming the match 7-6(3) 6-4 in an hour and a quarter.

The 22-year-old will next play either sixth seed Tomas Berdych, to whom he lost in Madrid last week, or Dmitry Tursunov in the last 16.