Rome Masters: Ruud makes last 16 after Berrettini retires

Norwegian Casper Ruud, the No 6 seed, reached the last 16 of the Rome Masters when Italian Matteo Berrettini, the No 29 seed, retired on Monday evening at the Foro Italico in Roma.

Ruud, ranked No 7, led 7-5, 2-0 when Berrettini, ranked No 30, retired due to an abdominal injury – the same issue which forced him to do the same during the Masters Masters.

“I feel so bad for him because this is where he’s from, his home Masters 1000,” said Ruud.

“I know he hasn’t played since 2021 because of other injuries.

“I know he’s worked hard to come back and now he gets another setback. I hope it’s not a long thing for him. I hope he can fix it soon and have a speedy recover. He’s a hell of a player.”

The Norwegian will play Spaniard Jaume Munar next.

Casper Ruud beat Kazakh Alexander Bublik (6-4, 4-6, 6-3) ahead of his victory.

In the previous round of the Italian Open, the Italian won against Jacob Fearnley (6-4, 7-6).

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

• Jaume Munar beat Sebastian Korda (22): 6-4, 6-2
• Jannik Sinner (1) beat Jesper De Jong (LL): 6-4, 6-2
• Francisco Cerundolo (17) beat Sebastian Ofner (Q): 6-2, 6-4
• Hubert Hurkacz (30) beat Marcos Giron: 6-3, 1-6, 6-1
• Jakub Mensik (20) beat Fabian Marozsan: 6-4, 7-6 (2)
• Alex De Minaur (7) beat Hugo Dellien (LL): 6-4, 6-4
• Tommy Paul (11) beat Tomas Machac (19): 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4
• Carlos Alcaraz (3) beat Laslo Djere: 7-6 (2), 6-2
• Karen Khachanov (23) beat Francesco Passaro (WC): 6-3, 6-0
• Jack Draper (5) beat Vit Kopriva (Q): 6-4, 6-3
• Alexander Zverev (2) beat Vilius Gaubas (Q): 6-4, 6-0
• Lorenzo Musetti (8) beat Brandon Nakashima (28): 6-4, 6-3
• Corentin Moutet beat Holger Rune (9): 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (4)
• Arthur Fils (13) beat Stefanos Tsitsipas (18): 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
• Daniil Medvedev (10) beat Alexei Popyrin (24): 6-4, 6-1