Tablio Prevails Over Khachanov
Chilean Alejandro Tablio succeeded in his surprise removal of twenty-four time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic from the Italian Open on Tuesday by defeating eighteenth ranked Karen Khachanov, earning him a place in the Italian Open quarter-finals.
Tablio has reached the quarter-finals of any Masters 1000 event for the first time in his career.
Tablio excelled through after a rousing tie break in the second set which manufactured eleven service breaks, two set points for Khachanov and five match points. Tablio was bursting with elation after the volley, which won him the match.
Zverev Eases Into A Win Against Borges
Third seeded German Alexander Zverev reached the quarter-finals in a win over Nuno Borges 6 – 2, 7 – 5.
Zverev has reached at least the fourth round at all the Masters 1000 events this year as he supplied an outstanding display of baseline ballstriking to beat Borges.
Even though Zverev let slip an early break lead when Borges levelled at 2 – 2, Zverev remained focused to recover from Borges’ advance.
Zhang Rallies Over Monteiro
Zhizhen Zhang is close to making Chinese tennis history by winning over Brazilian Thiago Monteiro 7 – 6(4), 6 – 3.
Wednesday twenty-seven year old Zhang will be attempting to become the first Masters 1000 semifinalist from China when he plays against Chilean Alejandro Tablio in the Italian Open.
During a one hour fifty-six minute match Zhang executed ten aces and saved all four break points as he soared past Monteiro for the win.
Fritz Trounces Dimitrov
American Taylor Fritz quickly recovered from a tie break to overcome Grigor Dimitrov in an engaging fourth round skirmish today at the Rome Masters.
6 – 2, 6 – 7(11), 6 – 1 to ascend to the quarter-finals in Rome for the first time in five main-draw appearances.
During a second set tie break Fritz let slip one match point and saved nine set points from Dimitrov before levelling at one set-all after a double fault.
Fritz kept up the high level of playing he had shown in the first two sets, as Dimitrov struggled to keep his rhythm on serve, with the American succeeding in winning the two hour forty-two minute match.
When Fritz was asked about his twenty-four point tie break, he answered, “To be honest, I feel like normally in those situations, I’d be a lot more uptight and nervy, but honestly I feel pretty calm. I think it was tough because slowly the sun was moving the whole match, and right in the tie-breaker is the first time it was bad for me on that side. So I threw in the double fault”.
“I had a really good opportunity on a second serve [return], match point, and he hit it into my body and a bit slower than the other ones. I just caught it a bit early trying to get out of the way of it. It’s easy to go back and dwell on that whole third set, but I did a really good job at just putting it behind me and not thinking about that second serve return.”
Fritz finished the match saving all eleven break points that he faced.
“Sometimes you have that feeling, that you feel very good and are cool under pressure, and sometimes you don’t “, said Fritz, when asked about his important points prowess against Dimitrov. Fritz continued, “It comes and it goes, and today I felt very calm throughout the whole match. I genuinely just felt calm today”
Tsitsipas Cruises Into Win Over de Minaur
Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas trounced Australian Alex de Minaur in their clash with a 6 – 1, 6 – 2 win today.
In a short twenty-three minute opening set Tsitsipas displayed an overwhelming mix of power and patience on the clay court during the crucial moments.
Tsitsipas, with complete confidence and total control, hit off both baseline wings. He surrendered served for the only time at the 4 – 1 in the second set. He broke back immediately by demolishing any hope of comeback for de Minaur.
Postmatch Tsitsipas said, “I tried to do the best I could out there on the court by bringing the best quality on my strokes, and I delivered. Throughout the entire match I was pretty consistent with my serves and the ball placement. I was able to construct those points patiently and then wait for those shorter balls to come up”.
“I really felt that my opponent felt the heaviness and the depth of my ball. It gave me courage, it gave me great belief in myself that I can continue pushing in that sense. I knew that I had something good working for me today.”
Paul Ends Medvedev’s Title Defence
American Tommy Paul destroys second seed Daniil Medvedev’s Italian Open title defence hopes today when Paul cemented his first Top Twenty win to reach the quarter-finals.
Paul held his ground in baseline exchanges and moved forward to counter Medvedev’s deep court positioning with a one hour thirteen minute match win 6 – 1, 6 – 1.
Paul broke all three of Medvedev’s service games in the opening set.
Medvedev rallied to gain a 2 – 0 lead in the second set before Paul answered by winning four consecutive games.
Postmatch Paul said, “I think it was a pretty clean match for me, other than maybe the first or second game in both sets. I played some really good tennis. I played pretty aggressive, that was the game plan coming in ”
Hurkacz Breaks Baez
Twenty-seven year old Polish national Hubert Hurkacz succeeded over Argentinian Sebastian Baez 5 – 7, 7 – 6(4), 6 – 4 in a two hour thirty-nine minute scrimmage in Rome.
Hurkacz was down a break in the second set and again and was down 1/3 in the tie break, becoming the eleventh active player too reach the quarter-finals at all nine current ATP Masters 1000 events.
Jarry Jumps Into The Last Eight Over Muller
Number twenty-one seed Chilean Nicolas Jarry has progressed to the Rome Masters quarter-finals by defeating Frenchman Alexandre Muller 7 – 5, 6 – 3 Tuesday.
Jarry will play Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round.
This will be Jarry’s first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal on clay and his third overall following Shanghai in 2023 and Miami this year
