Sinner reaches Italian Open quarter-finals as Zverev crashes out

ROME: Jannik Sinner moved a step closer to a first Italian Open title on Tuesday after beating fellow Italian Andrea Pellegrino 6-2, 6-3, while defending champion Alexander Zverev was knocked out by Luciano Darderi.

World number one Sinner was in control throughout on centre court and comfortably saw off qualifier Pellegrino in a match that never seriously threatened to swing away from him. The 24-year-old has now won 31 consecutive matches in Masters 1000 events, matching Novak Djokovic's record streak.

I'm very happy about the outcome, but at the same time I'm very happy for him, I know he's working very hard, said Sinner of Pellegrino.

Tomorrow, a day off is important for me, trying to rest, and then hopefully I'm ready for quarters.

Pellegrino's run to the last 16 at his home tournament is his best result at a Masters 1000 event. The 29-year-old is set to climb to a career-high ranking of 123 after reaching the main draw of a top-level ATP event for the first time and then earning a meeting with Italy's leading tennis star in front of more than 10,000 spectators.

Although Pellegrino drew strong support and produced some fine touches when given opportunities, Sinner was never forced out of his comfort zone. He will next face 12th seed Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals.

If Sinner goes on to claim a sixth straight Masters 1000 title, he would become the first Italian man to win at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago. With Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by injury and Zverev now out, Sinner has become the leading contender for the title as he builds towards Roland Garros, where he is seeking to complete the career Grand Slam.

Zverev stunned by Darderi

Second seed Zverev went down 1-6, 7-6 (12/10), 6-0 to 18th-seeded Darderi, who came through in front of a vocal home crowd. The German, who won the Rome title in 2024, faded badly after taking the opening set as Darderi secured the first victory of his career over a top-10 opponent.

It's my most important win, to beat Zverev at Roma is the most exciting win of my career, said Darderi.

Darderi is set to rise to a career-best 17th in the world rankings after reaching the last eight.

Ruud advances as Musetti struggles with injury

Casper Ruud beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-1 after the Italian was hampered by physical problems. Musetti had been in tears after his third-round victory over Francisco Cerundolo and took a medical time-out in the second set against Ruud because of an issue with his left thigh.

Musetti will fall out of the men's top 10 before the French Open next week. He later told reporters he was uncertain whether he would play in Paris.

Ruud, who is in the opposite half of the draw from Sinner, will meet Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals. Khachanov, the 13th seed, defeated Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic 6-1, 7-6 (7/2), ending his attempt to reach a first Masters 1000 quarter-final. Prizmic had made headlines earlier in the tournament by defeating Novak Djokovic in the second round.

I realised that... we try to make him run as much as possible. It's cruel and it's brutal, but that's sport, Ruud told reporters.

Elsewhere, 2023 Rome champion Daniil Medvedev beat Thiago Agustin Landaluce 6-3, 6-2 and will take on Spanish lucky loser Martin Landaluce in the final quarter-final.

Cirstea into women's semi-finals

In the women's draw, Sorana Cirstea advanced to the semi-finals with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/0) win over Jelena Ostapenko. Cirstea, who had eliminated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, is due to retire at the end of the season.

The Romanian will face either Coco Gauff or Russia's Mirra Andreeva for a place in Saturday's final. Gauff beat Andreeva 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.