Rome Masters: Popyrin through to last 16

Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin defeated Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin 7-5, 7-5 to move into the last 16 of the Rome Masters at the Foro Italico on Sunday.

Popyrin, ranked No 77, will face the winner of the match between Italian wildcard Fabio Fognini and Dane Holger Rune, the No 7 seed, next.

Ahead of his victory, the Australian won against Christopher O’Connell (6-2, 7-6 (5)) and edged out Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No 10 seed (6-4, 4-6, 7-5).

Safiullin, ranked No 103, beat American Marcos Giron (6-4, 6-3) and American Sebastian Korda, the No 22 seed (6-2, 7-6 (5)) in the previous rounds of the Italian Open.

Rome Masters, other third-round results (Foro Italico, clay, EUR 7.705.780, most recent results first):

• Borna Coric vs. Roberto Carballes Baena
• Andrey Rublev vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
• Alexander Shevchenko vs. Jannik Sinner
• Casper Ruud vs. Alexander Bublik
• Marton Fucsovics vs. Cameron Norrie
• Novak Djokovic vs. Grigor Dimitrov
• Laslo Djere vs. Cristian Garin
• Fabio Fognini vs. Holger Rune: sunday
• Gregoire Barrere vs. Francisco Cerundolo: sunday