Novak Djokovic reached the final 16 of the Italian Open on Sunday after profitable a battle with Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, whereas blistering Iga Swiatek thrashed Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-0.
Six-time Rome champion Djokovic initially regarded in improved type in comparison with his sluggish event opener towards Tomas Etcheverry however once more had a struggle on his arms towards the previous world quantity three.
No longer sporting the elbow brace he had in Friday’s second spherical match, Djokovic regarded to have shaken off the harm which pressured him to overlook final week’s Madrid Masters.
The 22-time Grand Slam title winner misplaced his serve within the first sport of the match however broke again instantly and in sport 4 broke once more to tip the primary set in his favour.
Djokovic served out to take the lead and in sport three of the second set broke former world quantity three Dimitrov, who handed the initiative to the Serb with a weak backhand into the web.
However Dimitrov levelled the set at 4-4 with a break of his personal, angering Djokovic who was satisfied that the shot which received the sport was lengthy, and drew large roars from the Foro Italico crowd when he claimed the set.
However Djokovic has reached not less than the quarter-finals in every of his 16 appearances in Rome and a strong third set show ensured his passage into the fourth spherical.
It was his eleventh win in 12 conferences with Dimitrov.
Swiatek breezes
Losing finalist in Madrid final weekend, Swiatek regarded once more in imperious type as she breezed into the final 16 of the ladies’s draw.
The 21-year-old is attempting for her third straight Rome title and made gentle work of Tsurenko after a barely bumpy begin.
Swiatek misplaced the primary two video games however then rattled off 12 in a row in a robust demonstration of why she is world primary and favorite to defend her Roland Garros title.
“I’m simply attempting to be constant and attempting to play my sport. I deal with each match as a closing, I attempt to have the correct mindset,” said Swiatek on court.
Swiatek now faces either Donna Vekic or Ljudmila Samsonova in the fourth round after extending her winning streak in the Italian capital to 13 matches.
Her bid for a Rome hat-trick will be helped by six of the world’s top 10 women players being eliminated early.
Fifth-ranked Coco Gauff of the United States was defeated by Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. It was Bouzkova’s third career Top 5 win but first on clay.
Also heading for the exit was world number eight Maria Sakkari who was beaten 7-5, 6-3 by Marketa Vondrousova.
Gauff and Sakkari join world number two Aryna Sabalenka, third-ranked Jessica Pegula, world number four Caroline Garcia and seventh ranked Ons Jabeur in being dumped out of the tournament.
Former world number one Victoria Azarenka withdrew with a right leg injury handing Madison Keys of the United States a free pass into the last 16.
Medvedev’s Rome joy
Daniil Medvedev won his first ever match in Rome, 6-4, 6-2 against Emil Ruusuvuori, the former US Open champion winning a second round match which was postponed to Sunday due to the torrential rain which hit the Italian capital on Saturday.
In much balmier conditions the world number three was dominant on a clay court surface he is famous for not liking.
Few would back him to go deep in Rome but his performances on clay have improved, reaching the quarter-finals at the Monte Carlo Masters.
“Every time I come to a tournament I know I can play well, so I’m happy to finally get the win here in Rome,” mentioned Medvedev.
Fifth-ranked tefanos Tsitsipas will tackle dwelling hope Lorenzo Sonego within the third spherical after ending off Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-3.
World quantity seven Holger Rune eased previous Italian veteran Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-2 to make the final 16.
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)
