World number one Jannik Sinner equalled Novak Djokovic’s record of 31 consecutive Masters 1000 victories by reaching the Italian Open quarter-finals, while second seed Alexander Zverev suffered a shock defeat.
The home favourite comfortably dispatched Italian qualifier Andrea Pellegrino 6-2 6-3 at the Foro Italico.
The top seed has already set a new benchmark by winning a fifth straight Masters tournament in Madrid last weekend.
He is now bidding to become only the second player in history to win all nine current Masters 1000 events on the ATP Tour.
The dominant Italian has dropped merely two sets since suffering his most recent defeat against Jakub Mensik in February.
Zverev blasts ‘worst court ever’
While the world number one flourished, Germany’s second seed collapsed to a remarkable defeat against 18th seed Luciano Darderi.
The Italian underdog fought back from a set and 5-3 down, saving four match points to triumph 1-6 7-6 (10) 6-0.
The vanquished Olympic champion was furious with the playing conditions in the Italian capital following his dramatic exit.
I think this is the worst court I’ve ever played on.
Juniors, professional, futures, practice, I never played on a court where the court quality is that bad. I have match point and the ball jumps over my head. I have break point, the ball rolls.
Jodar achieves rare teenage milestone
Darderi advances to face 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, who continued his stunning breakout season by dispatching Learner Tien 6-1 6-4.
The rising star becomes the first teenager to reach the men’s quarter-finals in Rome since Djokovic achieved the feat in 2007.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Norwegian specialist Casper Ruud eliminated Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti in a notable upset.
In the women’s tournament, veteran Romanian Sorana Cirstea maintained her excellent form to reach the semi-finals.
The unseeded competitor, who previously eliminated world number one Aryna Sabalenka, comfortably defeated Jelena Ostapenko 6-1 7-6 (0).
Iga Swiatek dismantled Naomi Osaka to reach the Italian Open quarter-finals on Monday, while home favourite Jannik Sinner moved a step closer to a historic career Golden Masters.
The Polish world number three dispatched four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka 6-2 6-1 in just one hour and 22 minutes on the Rome clay.
Osaka initially recovered from an early break to level the opening set at 2-2, but was quickly overwhelmed by her opponent’s relentless baseline power.
Winning the next four games seamlessly, the top seed secured the first set before breaking twice in the second to complete a comprehensive victory.
Resurgent Swiatek targets Roman revival
Prior to arriving in the Italian capital, the Warsaw-born star had not tasted victory on clay since her triumph at the French Open in 2024.
She will now face American fifth seed Jessica Pegula in the last eight.
This recent surge in form follows a significant change to her coaching setup earlier this year.
Following a disappointing second-round exit at the Australian Open in January, she parted ways with Wim Fissette to hire Francisco Roig.
The Spanish coach brings immense pedigree to her camp, having previously worked alongside Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu.
Sinner closes in on ATP history
In the men’s draw, Sinner claimed his 30th consecutive Masters 1000 victory to thrill the passionate home crowd.
The Italian crushed Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-2 6-0 to easily progress to the round of 16.
He is now aiming to join Novak Djokovic as only the second male player to sweep all nine ATP 1000 events.
The 24-year-old remains undefeated since last October’s Shanghai Masters, an astonishing streak that includes the recent Madrid Open title.
Rome remains the only Masters tournament missing from his illustrious trophy cabinet.
He will face compatriot Andrea Pellegrino next, following the wildcard’s impressive victory over American Frances Tiafoe.
“It’s been a very special tournament for me, starting with a wildcard back in the day,” Sinner said.
Former champion Stan Wawrinka has been awarded a main-draw wildcard for the upcoming French Open ahead of his retirement at the end of the season.
The 41-year-old Swiss, who lifted the Coupe des Mousquetaires in 2015, confirmed earlier this year that he will conclude his illustrious career following the current campaign.
Tournament organisers are planning special tributes in Paris to honour both the three-time Grand Slam winner and home favourite Gael Monfils.
The French veteran, who reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2008, is also set to step away from the sport later this year.
Farewell to an era
The Lausanne native currently sits 125th in the world rankings, necessitating the wildcard entry for direct access to the main draw.
Monfils has also slipped down the standings to 222nd, though he recently made history in Auckland as the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title.
During his peak, the formidable Swiss star reached world number three and secured major championships by defeating both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic when they held the number one ranking.
He also claimed Olympic doubles gold alongside compatriot Roger Federer in 2008 and anchored Switzerland to a historic Davis Cup triumph in 2014.
Goffin misses out on main draw
While two retiring veterans secured direct entry, there was disappointment for David Goffin.
The Belgian, who is concluding his career at the end of the 2026 season, was only granted a wildcard into the qualifying tournament.
Now ranked 249th, the former world number seven previously reached the quarter-finals at three different Grand Slam events.
The remaining men’s wildcards were distributed through reciprocal agreements and to a selection of emerging French talent.
The clay-court major officially begins on 24 May.
Iga Swiatek has set up a blockbuster Italian Open fourth-round clash with Naomi Osaka after dismantling home favourite Elisabetta Cocciaretto in Rome.
The Polish world number three needed just 67 minutes to record a ruthless 6-1 6-0 victory.
She won an impressive 76% of points behind her first serve and dropped a mere six points on her second delivery.
The 24-year-old is now finding her best form under new coach Francisco Roig, having recently parted ways with Wim Fissette.
Osaka awaits in highly anticipated clash
Swiatek will now face four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, who has enjoyed a strong run on the European clay.
The Japanese star breezed past 19th seed Diana Shnaider with a commanding 6-1 6-2 victory of her own.
Despite previously describing her movement on the surface as being like a “baby giraffe”, the 28-year-old is finding her footing.
She came agonisingly close to defeating the dominant clay-court specialist at the 2024 French Open, holding a match point before ultimately falling short.
Excitement builds for fourth-round showdown
When informed of her upcoming opponent, Osaka was quick to acknowledge the difficulty of her recent draws.
“Life is a little cruel. Damn. Sabalenka, now Iga.”
However, the former world number one remains highly motivated for the challenge ahead.
“For me that’s where I show up. Even though it hasn’t been in my favour the last couple of times, for me those matches are the most fun. I’m excited at the thought.”
Rybakina and Pegula advance
Elsewhere in the women’s draw, world number two Elena Rybakina secured her place in the fourth round.
The highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament following Aryna Sabalenka’s exit defeated Alexandra Eala 6-4 6-3.
Fifth seed Jessica Pegula also progressed, delivering a flawless 6-0 6-0 demolition of Swiss qualifier Rebeka Masarova in just over an hour.
Novak Djokovic has suffered a shock second-round defeat to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic at the Italian Open in Rome.
The six-time tournament champion was competing in his first event since losing at Indian Wells in March.
However, the tennis icon looked physically hampered as he was beaten in three sets by the world number 79 on Campo Centrale.
Injury woes hamper French Open preparations
This surprise exit represents the Serbian’s first ever defeat in an opening match in the Italian capital.
It leaves the current world number four critically short of match fitness ahead of the French Open.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner has completed just one clay-court match before the second major of the year begins on 24 May.
Speaking to the ATP before taking to the court, he admitted he was struggling with his overall physical condition.
“I am not the happiest with the level of tennis or the movement or the physical state, but it is getting there,” he said.
“I wanted to be back on the Tour earlier but couldn’t. I was injured, so I had to deal with it progressively.”
Prizmic claims biggest career victory
The tournament favourite cruised through the opening set before his movement became noticeably laboured.
Prizmic played with relentless aggression to take control of the contest and secure a stunning two-hour victory over his childhood idol.
The Croatian teenager previously took a set off the former world number one at the Australian Open earlier this year.
He is currently enjoying a highly positive clay-court season, having recently defeated Ben Shelton at the Madrid Open for his first top-10 victory.
The rising star will now face either Vit Kopriva or Ugo Humbert in the third round.
Former world number one Iga Swiatek battled past American Caty McNally to reach the Italian Open last 32 on a dramatic Friday in Rome that saw her new coach Francisco Roig suffer a torn Achilles.
The three-time Rome champion secured a hard-fought 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 victory over her unseeded opponent.
Early dominance gives way to baseline battle
The Polish star appeared to be cruising after establishing a commanding 6-1 3-1 lead on the Italian clay.
However, she squandered three crucial break points that would have extended her advantage to 4-1 before a flurry of unforced errors changed the complexion of the contest.
For sure, not an easy first match. The conditions were kind of heavy. The ball was flying slow.
McNally is the only player to have taken a set off the clay-court specialist at Wimbledon last year.
The American also boasts a memorable comeback victory over her higher-ranked rival during the 2018 Roland Garros junior event.
Late drama and service struggles
The momentum shifted dramatically as the underdog began to impose her varied touch on the grueling baseline exchanges.
Swiatek served for the match at 5-4 and 6-5 in the second set, but lapsed into backhand errors to be broken on both occasions.
Honestly, I want to watch this game and see if there’s something that I did wrong. I’m not sure even what I did.
The deciding set nearly unraveled in similar fashion when a double fault allowed McNally to instantly erase a 3-1 deficit.
Finding focus to secure progression
With the pressure mounting at 4-4, the multiple Grand Slam winner regained her composure to swat away a dangerous return.
Two clean winners followed to secure the decisive break, ensuring there would be no repeat of her second-set struggles.
I’m happy at the end of the match I was solid and I used the right balls to attack, but was also patient enough to stay in the rally.
She will next face either 28th seed Emma Navarro or Italian home hope Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the third round.
Injury blow to new coaching setup
The hard-fought victory was overshadowed by off-court developments within the Swiatek camp.
Her newly appointed head coach, Francisco Roig, suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a training session earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, fellow former world number one Naomi Osaka also battled to a three-set victory to book her place in the last 32.
World number one Jannik Sinner has joined a growing player protest over the distribution of prize money at the upcoming French Open.
The Italian spoke at the Italian Open in Rome, echoing deep concerns raised by fellow professionals regarding their share of tournament revenues.
Earlier this week, women’s star Aryna Sabalenka suggested competitors should consider boycotting the Paris Grand Slam entirely.
“It’s more about respect, because I think we give much more than what we are getting back,” said the reigning Australian Open champion.
He noted that the ongoing financial disparity affects the entire tennis tour, rather than strictly impacting the elite bracket.
Revenues spark player frustration
Competitors have targeted Roland Garros officials after calculating that their share of overall revenue is allegedly being reduced.
Players claim their percentage of tournament income will decline from 15.5% in 2024 to a projected 14.9% by 2026.
This contrasts sharply with standard ATP and WTA tour events, which typically offer roughly a 22% slice of revenues to the playing field.
The 22-year-old refused to fully commit to a strike but acknowledged that collective action might soon be necessary.
“It’s tough to say. I cannot predict the future in a way, but at the same time I also believe that somewhere we need to start.”
Demands for urgent discussions
A collective group of professionals sent a formal letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments last year seeking greater financial influence.
While Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open all increased their total prize pots recently, tensions remain largely unresolved.
French Open organisers announced a 10% increase to their overall prize fund last month, taking the total to €61.7m (£52.9m).
However, the playing contingent released a statement claiming the underlying financial figures tell a very different story.
“It’s not nice that after one year we are not even close to a conclusion of what we would like to have,” Sinner added.
The top-ranked star expressed a strong desire for immediate talks with tournament chiefs to resolve the escalating dispute.
“I truly believe that within 48 hours you have not only a response but you also have a meeting.”
Looking ahead to Wimbledon
Focus will soon shift to the grass-court season, with the All England Club yet to announce their financial packages for this summer.
Players are hopeful that upcoming announcements from London and New York will present a fairer and more sustainable financial picture.
“We’ve been quiet for a long time and now the time has come to raise our voice. We’re not asking for 50% – we wouldn’t even dare – but right now we’re getting too little.”
French Open officials have not yet publicly responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing negotiations.
British number one Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Italian Open in Rome after suffering from a post-viral illness.
The 2021 US Open champion had been practicing in the Italian capital for the past few days ahead of the prestigious clay-court tournament.
She completed her mandatory media obligations before ultimately deciding alongside her team that she was unfit to compete.
Setback in clay-court season
This latest withdrawal represents a frustrating obstacle for the 23-year-old as she attempts to build momentum on the demanding European clay-court swing.
The talented right-hander has endured a heavily disrupted timeline on the WTA Tour, frequently battling various injuries and physical ailments since her historic triumph in New York.
Her focus will now undoubtedly shift toward regaining full fitness ahead of the impending French Open at Roland Garros.