Italian Open: Watson, Broady & Bedene win opening qualifiers in Rome

Heather Watson is ranked 56th in the world

Britons Heather Watson, Naomi Broady and Aljaz Bedene are one match away from the main draw of the Italian Open after wins in qualifying.

Watson beat Nastassja Burnett 6-3 2-6 6-3 and Broady saw off Saisai Zheng 6-3 6-2, but Laura Robson lost 6-4 6-2 to Christina McHale.

In the men's qualifiers, Bedene beat Omar Giacalone 4-6 6-3 6-1.

Elsewhere, Briton Kyle Edmund beat Filip Krajinovic 7-6 (7-2) 6-0 to win the second-tier Rome Challenger.

Victory gave the 21-year-old his fifth title at that level.

Countryman Dan Evans will try to win his second challenger title in a row when he takes on Russia's Konstantin Kravchuk in Busan, South Korea on Sunday (03:00 BST).

Watson, 56th in the world rankings and British number two, will face Croatia's Ana Konjuh for a place in the main draw in Rome. Broady, ranked 80th, plays McHale.

World number 59 Bedene will face Frenchman Kenny de Schepper, who is 154th in the rankings.

British number one Andy Murray, seeded second, is likely to be in action in Rome on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Scot has been granted a bye in the first round and will meet either Borna Coric or a qualifier in round two.

The Italian Open is the final major ATP World Tour tournament on clay before the French Open, which begins in Paris on 22 May.