Iga Swiatek, the current top-ranked player, secured her ninth consecutive victory by defeating Angelique Kerber at the Italian Open. The Polish player struggled in the first set, needing eight set points to secure the victory. However, she dominated the second set, winning 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals.
During Madison Keys’ match against Sorana Cirstea, an environmental protest caused a temporary interruption. Protesters invaded the court, throwing confetti and even gluing themselves to the stands. Keys managed to maintain her focus and secure a 6-2, 6-1 victory. Swiatek and Keys will face each other in a rematch of last week’s Madrid Open semifinal.
Another American player, Coco Gauff, showcased her resilience by rallying to defeat Paula Badosa in a thrilling three-set match. Gauff’s victory adds to the American presence in the Italian Open quarterfinals. The tournament has seen some surprising upsets, with both the Madrid finalists eliminated in the third round.
In the men’s tournament, last week’s Madrid Open winner Andrey Rublev suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of French qualifier Alexandre Muller. The fourth-seeded Rublev was unable to maintain his momentum, falling to Muller in three sets. Additionally, Felix Auger-Aliassime, the runner-up in Madrid, was defeated by Alex De Minaur in a closely contested match.
The defending champion and second seed, Daniil Medvedev, is set to play Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic in a highly anticipated match later in the tournament. The Italian Open has already witnessed several unexpected outcomes, making it an exciting event for tennis fans around the world.
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