Italian Open: Alexander Zverev Cruises Into Last 16, Aryna Sabalenka Battles Past Sofia Kenin

Alexander Zverev continued his defense of the Italian open title by sailing beyond the qualifier Vilius Gaubas and reaching the last 16, whileryna Sabalenka progressed with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Sofia Kenin. Zverev barely interrupted the central court against Gaubas, assumed to be a 6-4, 6-0 victory to set up a last confrontation with France Arthur’s. The world’s number two took an hour 26 minutes to see Gaubas, suggesting that the burn-out he said he was suffering earlier in the year could be behind him.

Zverev hopes that a good defense of his crown of Rome will set him up to get better than last year to the French Open and be crowned champion.

But he will face a much more difficult test against the sons, who beat Stefanos Tsisipas 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, than that put in place by Gaubas.

“At first, it was a bit difficult for me, it was also very, very windy,” said Zverev.

“The wind really calmed down after the first set, then it is easier to put a rhythm, easier for me to have clean blows.”

It was a good day for French players in the male tournament with the victory of the sons and the world number 83 Corentin Moutet shocking Holger Rune 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) on the picturesque Pietrangeli Court to claim his very first victory over a top 10 player.

The sons came from an eventful match with the former finalist of Rome Tsisipas who ended with the pair competing on the net.

Tsitsipas was angry with son for ignoring his apologies after the Greek accidentally struck his opponent with a shot in the seventh game of the second set, causing an post-match row that brought the referee down from his chair.

Daniil Medvedev swept Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-1 and Next Face Home Hope Lorenzo Musetti who followed Sabalenka on the central field by beating Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 6-3.

Carlos Alcaraz will continue his candidacy for a first title of Rome when he showed up at Center Court to face Laslo Djere in the last match of the day.

– Sabalenka through –

The world number one Sabalenka has gone through a difficult match with the former winner of Australian Kenin to set up a confrontation with Marta Kostyuk, who beat Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-2.

The Belarusian has reached the final of its last four tournaments, winning in Miami and Madrid, and is now a favorite in Foro Italico even after Sunday’s display.

The finalist losing last year was not in the races in the first set, which constantly lost his setbacks before complaining of the surface on the central field.

“I was completely gone, and I’m really happy to have been able to cool and … start focusing on the game and the right things,” Sabalenka told journalists.

“This courtyard, because it’s super slow and the ball really drops a lot, for his game (Kenin), for his style, it suits him really well. So you have to stay low and you are always on the back.”

Sabalenka has an excellent opportunity to claim its third series of 1000 series of the season, after the triple winner Iga Swiatek was abandoned by Danielle Collins on Saturday.

“She faces really difficult challenges, I believe, out of the field,” added Sabalenka de Swiatek.

“Maybe maybe need free time, then she will resume her game because the level is there. She is a champion.”

One of the main rivals of Sabalenka for the female title, Coco Gauff, crossed Magda Linette in the right sets 7-5, 6-3 and should see Emma Raducanu in the next round.

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