Improving Sinner steps up a gear to beat Cerundolo for quarter-final spot in Rome

Jannik Sinner stepped his game up another level on his comeback to the Tour at the Rome Masters on Tuesday as he fended off the considerable threat of Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (2), 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.

The Italian was pushed hard in the opening set and then let slip a 5-1 lead with Cerundolo holding chances to break back but finally got over the line after a testing battle.

Out for three months due to a doping ban, Sinner stretched his winning streak to 24 matches and said he was happy with the way his game is improving match on match.

“He’s a very tough competitor, it’s obviously a great challenge for me, especially now, in this moment, trying to get used to so many difficult situations on the court,” said Sinner, who will play Casper Ruud or Jaume Munar next.

“But I’m happy because today I felt that I raised my level. Game-wise, I felt a little bit better, which I’m very glad and happy (about). Very heavy conditions, long day and the crowd helped me so much today. Happy to go through.”

Sinner forces home his advantage

Cerundolo had won more matches on clay than anyone else in 2025 but Sinner had break points in the first and fifth games – seven in all – only for the Argentinian to show his mental strength and stay on track.

Sinner then had to dig deep to save a couple of break points at 2-3 but otherwise, it was a case of the server in charge, the set heading to a tiebreak. That was where Sinner knuckled down and won it 7-2.

A break in the fourth game of the second set put Sinner firmly in charge and he broke again to lead 5-1 only to falter, briefly, as Cerundolo broke back, saved a match point at 2-5, held and then had two break points to get back on serve, only for Sinner to shut the door and clinch victory.

The Italian won against Argentinian Mariano Navone (6-3, 6-4) and Dutch lucky loser Jesper De Jong (6-4, 6-2) ahead of his victory.

In the previous rounds of the Italian Open, Cerundolo, ranked No 18, won against Chilean Nicolas Jarry (7-6 (4), 6-3) and Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner (6-2, 6-4).

Roma Masters 1000, other last 16 results (Foro Italico, clay, EUR 8.055.385, most recent results first):

• Jaume Munar vs. Casper Ruud
• Tommy Paul vs. Alex De Minaur
• Alexander Zverev (2) beat Arthur Fils (13): 7-6 (3), 6-1
• Lorenzo Musetti (8) beat Daniil Medvedev (10): 7-5, 6-4
• Hubert Hurkacz (30) beat Jakub Mensik (20): 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (5)
• Carlos Alcaraz (3) beat Karen Khachanov (23): 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
• Jack Draper (5) beat Corentin Moutet: 1-6, 6-4, 6-3