Jannik Sinner’s march toward a maiden Italian Open title continued on Tuesday as the world number one eased past fellow Italian Andrea Pellegrino 6-2, 6-3.
The top seed proved far too strong for qualifier Pellegrino on Centre Court, dominating a contest that rarely looked in doubt from the opening game.
With the victory, the 24-year-old Sinner extended his winning streak in Masters 1000 events to 31 matches, matching Novak Djokovic’s record run.
For Pellegrino, reaching the last 16 in Rome marks the finest result of his career at Masters 1000 level.
The 29-year-old is projected to rise to a career-high ranking of world number 123 after not only qualifying for the main draw of a top-tier ATP event for the first time, but also earning the chance to face Italy’s biggest sporting star in front of more than 10,000 fans.
Pellegrino received warm applause throughout for a spirited and respectable display, occasionally showcasing delicate touch and flair when Sinner allowed him opportunities.
Yet Sinner never needed to hit top gear, calmly controlling proceedings to set up a clash with either 12th seed Andrey Rublev or Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Should Sinner capture a record-extending sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title, he would become the first Italian man to triumph at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.
With great rival Carlos Alcaraz sidelined through injury and Djokovic already out of the tournament, Sinner has emerged as the overwhelming favourite in Rome as he builds momentum ahead of another bid to complete the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
Ruud cruises past injured Musetti
Casper Ruud advanced comfortably to the quarter-finals with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 win over another Italian, Lorenzo Musetti.
The clay-court specialist has yet to drop a set in Rome and looked sharp in difficult, windy conditions on Centre Court. Musetti, by contrast, appeared physically hampered throughout.
The eighth seed had broken down in tears after his third-round victory over Francisco Cerundolo and required a medical timeout for a left thigh problem during the second set against Ruud.
Musetti is now set to fall out of the ATP top 10 ahead of next week’s French Open and later admitted he remains uncertain about competing in Paris.
“I don’t know. In the next couple of days we’ll do some more tests, something I haven’t been able to do because I’ve been constantly playing,” Musetti told reporters.
Ruud, who sits on the opposite side of the draw to Sinner, will next face Karen Khachanov after the Norwegian ruthlessly exposed Musetti’s limited movement.
“I realised that we had to make him run as much as possible. It’s cruel and brutal, but that’s sport,” Ruud said.
Thirteenth seed Khachanov booked his place in the last eight by ending Dino Prizmic’s impressive run with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) victory over the Croatian qualifier.
Prizmic had made headlines earlier in the tournament by eliminating Novak Djokovic in the second round.
In the women’s draw, veteran Sorana Cirstea — who stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the third round — reached the semi-finals with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/0) victory over Jelena Ostapenko.
The Romanian, who plans to retire at the end of the season, will face either Coco Gauff or Mirra Andreeva for a place in Saturday’s final.
AFP
