(Rome) Two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek edged Lesia Tsurenko in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 to advance to the fourth round of the Italian Open on Sunday.
After crushing Anastasia Pavlyucenkova 6-0, 6-0 in her first match of the tournament, Swiatek lost just two games in four sets and extended her Foro Italico winning streak to 13.
Swiatek had 22 winners against only two for Tsurenko.
If the Pole lifts the trophy again, she will join Chris Evert and Conchita Martinez as the third player to sign three consecutive titles in Rome.
The favorite of the tournament, Swiatek will now cross swords with the winner of the duel between Liudmila Samsonova (no 16) and Donna Vekic (no 21), which will take place later on Sunday.
Marketa Vondrousova also won her match on red clay in Italy by defeating No. 9 Maria Sakkari in straight sets 7-5, 6-3.
Madison Keys advanced to the next round when Victoria Azarenka withdrew before their clash due to a right leg injury.
On the men’s side, Holger Rune kept his cool in front of a hostile crowd and eliminated Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-2.
Fognini expressed his dissatisfaction with a decision by the chair umpire in the first inning when he came to look at the mark left by the ball on the ground.
“How can you say that ball is off-line?” How can you make this mistake? There is no space, said Fognini. It’s impossible. How can you be so bad? »
Daniil Medvedev earned a first career victory in Rome beating Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 6-2. The Russian had lost his first match in his three previous appearances at Foro Italico.
PHOTO GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE, REUTERS
“I’m happy to finally win here in Rome! smiled the Russian leaving the court Nicola Pietrangeli.
Also, Stefanos Tsitsipas only needed to win two games to confirm his 6-3, 6-3 victory in the second round, against Nuno Borges. The match was suspended on Saturday due to rain.
A little later, the six-time champion in Rome Novak Djokovic will do battle with Grigor Dimitrov while the local favorite Jannik Sinnier will face Alexander Shevchenko.
