Jannik Sinner cruised through into the Italian Open last 16 on Monday with a straight-sets win over Alexei Popyrin to maintain his first title hopes in Rome, 6-2, 6-0.
The reigning world number one, also needed a little over an hour to win his 25th consecutive match as the Greek rolled past Australia’s Popyrin and set up an all-Italian derby in the next Round with Andrea Pellegrino.
Another qualifier, Pellegrino, 29, ranked just 155 in the world but who had never previously competed in a main draw of a Masters 1000 event before this week, defeated his fellow American Frances Tiafoe (20) 7-6 (10/8), 6-1.
In quotes reported by the ATP, Sinner said: “It’s nice to play a derby in Italy, he is having an incredible tournament beating amazing players.
“We met a long time ago (2019 in an ITF tournament), but he was another player, and I was another player.
Sinner, meanwhile, aims to extend his own record of consecutive ATP 500 titles after taking out the last five overall triumphs on tour.
The 24-year-old joins Novak Djokovic as the only player to win a maximum of the year’s first 25 Master 1000 matches, with the Serbian tennis icon setting year record runs of each stretching to 31 matches.
Sinner proved too strong for Popyrin, the Australian going down in straight sets after making 23 unforced errors.
Sinner broke five times as the world number 60 only got 48 percent of first serves in play on a one-sided affair.
“Obviously, he is a big server so for sure his serve percentage was not the highest, which helped me a little bit on my side but even if you are serving (with) your second serves and return really well,” Sinner said.
If Sinner wins at the Foro Italico he will be the first Italian champion there since Adriano Panatta, 50 years ago, and complete a full set of Master 1000 tournaments.
Sinner is poised to start as the hot favourite when he heads into French Open next week with great rival Carlos Alcaraz out injured and Novak Djokovic eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Former Rome champion Daniil Medvedev overcame Pablo Llamas Ruiz 3-6 6-4 6-2.
Gauff survives scare
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff reached the women’s quarter-finals after coming from behind to beat Iva Jovic 5-7 7-5 6-2 despite having faced a match point.
Gauff won a demanding windy centre court match lasting almost three hours against the Italian Open champion which was dominated by holding serve.
Danish player has not done well on the clay so far this season, suffering a last-16 elimination in Madrid after failing to impress as she managed for her quarterfinal spot in Stuttgart.
Gauff was so mad at herself soon after she saved a match point against the serve while trailing 5-4 in the second set that she slapped her head.
However, she recovered to eventually dispose of her compatriot and set up a last-eight clash with Mirra Andreeva.
It was tough reconfirmed Gauff.
The circumstances I think, made it hard for both to play some clean tennis. Very proud how I was able to battle back.”
Coming up after that, Naomi Osaka takes on three-time Rome champion Iga Swiatek, who has not won a clay event since her last of four French Open trophies in 2024.
The best outcome of a tough season for Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka would be to get past her last-16 exit at the hands of Aryna Sabalenka in Indian Wells and the Madrid Open.