Daijiworld Media Network – Rome

Rome, May 13: World number one Jannik Sinner continued his dominant run at the Italian Open with a comfortable straight-set victory over fellow Italian Andrea Pellegrino, while defending champion Alexander Zverev suffered a shock exit against local favourite Luciano Darderi on Tuesday.

Top seed Sinner defeated qualifier Pellegrino 6-2, 6-3 in a one-sided last-16 clash at the Foro Italico to book his place in the quarter-finals.

The victory marked Sinner’s 31st consecutive win in Masters 1000 tournaments, equalling Novak Djokovic’s record streak.

“I’m very happy about the outcome, but also happy for him because I know how hard he has worked,” Sinner said after the match.

The 24-year-old Italian never appeared under pressure and controlled the contest from the start despite a spirited effort from Pellegrino, who was playing the best tournament of his career.

Pellegrino, ranked outside the top 100, is expected to achieve a career-best ranking after reaching the last 16 of a Masters 1000 event for the first time.

Sinner will next face 12th seed Andrey Rublev as he continues his bid to become the first Italian man to win the Rome Masters since Adriano Panatta in 1976.

With Carlos Alcaraz sidelined due to injury and Zverev eliminated, Sinner has emerged as the overwhelming favourite for the title ahead of the French Open.

In one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, second seed Zverev crashed out after losing 1-6, 7-6 (12/10), 6-0 to 18th-seeded Luciano Darderi in front of a passionate home crowd.

Darderi rallied after losing the opening set heavily and produced a stunning comeback to secure the biggest victory of his career and his first-ever win over a top-10 opponent.

“This is the most important win of my career. To beat Zverev in Rome is something very special,” Darderi said.

Elsewhere, Italian star Lorenzo Musetti was forced out of the tournament after struggling with a thigh injury during his 6-3, 6-1 defeat to Norway’s Casper Ruud.

Musetti required a medical timeout during the second set and later admitted he remains uncertain about participating in the upcoming French Open.

Ruud advanced to the quarter-finals where he will face Karen Khachanov, who defeated Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic 6-1, 7-6 (7/2).

Former Rome champion Daniil Medvedev also progressed with a straight-sets win over Thiago Agustin Tirante and will next face Spain’s Martin Landaluce.

In the women’s draw, veteran Romanian Sorana Cirstea reached the semi-finals after defeating Jelena Ostapenko 6-1, 7-6 (7/0). She will next face Coco Gauff, who battled past Mirra Andreeva in three sets.