Jannik Sinner has advanced to the last eight of the Rome Masters. The world number 1 delighted the home crowd in a late match, beating Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (2), 6-3 in nearly two hours and 20 minutes of play.

The match between the two was scheduled to start earlier than scheduled, but was postponed due to rain. In the first set, the two exchanged one break each and the winner was naturally decided in a tiebreak, in which Sinner showed stronger nerves. In the second set, the leader in the scheme pulled 5-1 and served for the match when Cerundolo tried to make a great turnaround. He returned one of the two breaks and had opportunities to return the second, but Sinner closed the match in his favor on his fourth match point.

The Italian, who is making his return to the court this week after a three-month absence due to a doping ban, will play the winner of the Jaume Munar - Casper Ruud for a place in the semifinals.

In the other quarterfinal in the upper half, Hubert Hurkacz and Tommy Paul will face after beating Jakub Menšík and Alex de Minaur, respectively. Two very intriguing clashes are ahead in the lower half of the scheme. Jack Draper faces Carlos Alcaraz in a repeat of the 1/2-final from Indian Wells earlier this year, and Lorenzo Musetti stands in the way of last year's champion Alexander Zverev.

In the women's singles, Peyton Stearns continues her strong performances and took the scalp of Elina Svitolina. The American, ranked 42nd, will play for a place in the final against the home favorite Jasmine Paolini. | BGNES