Sinner Sets Up All-Italian Clash After Swift Win Over Popyrin, Coco Gauff Advances

Sinner sweeps past Popyrin to extend Rome dominance

Coco Gauff saved a match point and battled for nearly three hours to overcome Iva Jovic 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.

Jannik Sinner became only the second player after Djokovic to start a season 25-0 in Masters 1000 events with a dominant win over Popyrin...

The world No. 1 dropped just two games against Popyrin in a 62-minute win, moving one step closer to a maiden Italian Open crown.

Jannik Sinner raced into the Italian Open fourth round on Monday, dismantling Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 6-0 in just 62 minutes to keep his push for a maiden Rome title alive.

Sinner extended his winning run to 25 matches with a dominant display against the Australian, sealing the win in just over an hour and booking an all-Italian clash with Andrea Pellegrino next.

At 24, Sinner becomes only the second player after Novak Djokovic to start a season 25-0 in Masters 1000 events. Djokovic’s record run reached 31 matches back in 2011.

Popyrin had no answers and was overwhelmed by Sinner’s level, finishing with 23 unforced errors in a one-sided loss.

The Australian, ranked 60th in the world, landed just 48% of his first serves, giving Sinner multiple openings. The Italian broke five times and wrapped up a match that was never really in doubt.

“It has been a very good performance from my side,” Sinner said. 

“He’s a big server.”

“He's a big server so his percentage was not very high, which helped me for sure a little bit, but I've been returning very well the second serves.”

The World No. 1 is looking so good 👌@InteBNLdItalia | #IBI26 | @janniksin pic.twitter.com/qNCPYt7GbS

— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 11, 2026

A victory for Sinner in Rome would make him the first Italian to lift the Foro Italico trophy since Adriano Panatta in 1975, and it would also give him every Masters 1000 title to his name.

With Carlos Alcaraz sidelined and Novak Djokovic already out, Sinner stands out as the man to beat. He’s using this week to fine-tune his game ahead of Roland Garros, where he’ll look to move a step closer to the career Grand Slam.

Former Rome champion Daniil Medvedev opens his tournament against Pablo Llamas Ruiz. The seventh-seeded Russian bypassed the second round via a walkover, advancing straight to the third round.

Medvedev marked his 100th Masters 1000 win in style, fighting back from a set down to beat Llamas Ruiz 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Milestone Daniil 💯@DaniilMedwed brings up a century of victories at Masters 1000 level in style as he completes the comeback against Llamas Ruiz, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2!@InteBNLdItalia | #IBI26 pic.twitter.com/nEbe0tAcdJ

— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 11, 2026

Hamad Medjedovic reached the fourth round of a Masters 1000 for the first time, battling back to defeat Navone 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. It’s a milestone moment for the Serbian.

Thiago Tirante made history in Rome by advancing to his first Masters 1000 fourth round. He’ll meet Daniil Medvedev next.

Coco Gauff Fights Back from Match Point to Advance

Coco Gauff had to dig deep against Iva Jovic, saving a match point before turning the match around for a 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 win that booked her spot in the quarter-finals.

The reigning French Open champion and last year’s Rome runner-up ground out a physically demanding victory that stretched close to three hours on court.

At 22, Gauff hasn’t looked entirely comfortable on clay this year. Her run in Rome follows early exits in Stuttgart and a last-16 finish in Madrid.

Gauff was visibly frustrated with herself right after saving a match point on serve at 5-4 down in the second set, and she reacted by hitting herself on the head.

She managed to reset and came through against her fellow American, booking a quarter-final meeting with Mirra Andreeva.

The comeback QUEEN 👑@CocoGauff comes back from the brink to confirm her place in the quarterfinals, defeating Jovic 5-7, 7-5, 6-2!#IBI26 pic.twitter.com/IzpTxfpP3N

— wta (@WTA) May 11, 2026

“It was really hard,” Gauff said. “I think the conditions made it tough to make some clean tennis. Really proud of how I was able to fight.”

Later in the day, Naomi Osaka takes on three-time Rome champion Iga Swiatek, who hasn’t won a clay title since her fourth French Open triumph in 2024.

Making the quarter-finals would mark Osaka’s best result in a tough season so far. The four-time Grand Slam champion was beaten by Aryna Sabalenka in the last 16 at both Indian Wells and Madrid.