Rome Masters: Rune stunned by Moutet in epic contest

Frenchman Corentin Moutet reached the last 16 of the Rome Masters by edging out Holger Rune, the No 9 seed, 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (4) at the Foro Italico in Rome.

After an epic three hour and 44 minute battle, Moutet reached just his second last-16 berth at the Masters 1000 level courtesy of a gutsy and hard-fought win over the Dane.

Moutet’s last appearance in the last 16 at this level was in Paris in 2022, and today marks his finest win at a Masters event.

Moutet will now play for his place in the quarter-finals against the winner of the match between the No. 5 seed Jack Draper and the qualifier Vit Kopriva. Before his victory against Rune, ranked 10th in the ATP rankings, on Sunday, the French tennis player had beaten Australian Rinky Hijikata in three sets (3-6, 6-1, 7-5), and benefited from the retirement of the 21st seed Ugo Humbert (6-3, 4-0 ab.). The 22-year-old Dane had already fought to defeat the Argentine Francisco Comesana in three sets (3-6, 6-3, 6-4).

Rome Masters 1000, other third-round results (Foro Italico, clay, EUR 8.055.385, most recent results first):

• Hugo Dellien vs. Alex De Minaur
• Tommy Paul vs. Tomas Machac
• Jakub Mensik vs. Fabian Marozsan
• Marcos Giron vs. Hubert Hurkacz
• Matteo Berrettini vs. Casper Ruud
• Jaume Munar vs. Sebastian Korda
• Francisco Cerundolo vs. Sebastian Ofner
• Jannik Sinner vs. Jesper De Jong
• Laslo Djere vs. Carlos Alcaraz
• Francesco Passaro vs. Karen Khachanov
• Jack Draper vs. Vit Kopriva: sunday
• Vilius Gaubas vs. Alexander Zverev: sunday
• Lorenzo Musetti (8) beat Brandon Nakashima (28): 6-4, 6-3
• Arthur Fils (13) beat Stefanos Tsitsipas (18): 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
• Daniil Medvedev (10) beat Alexei Popyrin (24): 6-4, 6-1