Rome Masters: Sinner continues comeback with another victory, into last 16

Italian Jannik Sinner, the top seed, moved into the last 16 of the Rome Masters by winning against Dutch lucky loser Jesper De Jong 6-4, 6-2 at the Foro Italico in Roma on Monday.

After the match, Sinner stated:

“It was a completely different match from the first one, different conditions. I feel like I started the match very well, and then I had a big drop, and he started to play a bit better. Then I tried to understand what was going on, and then I – fortunately – broke him at 4-4 which gave me the confidence to continue.

“The second set went as it went, he hurt himself, it was obvious. He’s an amazing player, and, even more, an amazing person, so I wish him only the best and we all hope that it’s nothing too serious.”

It was a completely different match from the first one

The world No 1 will next face Francisco Cerundolo, a match which promises to be a tougher task.

“Everyday, every challenge is a tough one,” Sinner candidly said.

“Last time I played him, I lost to him on this court, so let’s see. He’s an amazing player, he’s having an amazing season, making a great tournament the week before here [Madrid], so for sure it’s going to be tough.

“I’m going to have to increase my level if I want to play even, so let’s see. Exactly these type of challenges, I need, so I am trying to understand where my game is. It’s going to be a good challenge, a good test for me, and let’s see how it goes.”

Ahead of his victory, the Italian defeated Argentinian Mariano Navone (6-3, 6-4).

De Jong, ranked No 93, beat Kazakh qualifier Alexander Shevchenko (6-2, 6-4) and Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the No 25 seed (6-0, 6-2) earlier in the tournament.

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

• Matteo Berrettini vs. Casper Ruud
• Jaume Munar vs. Sebastian Korda: monday
• Francisco Cerundolo 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