Top-ranked Iga Swiatek continued her winning streak by defeating Angelique Kerber to advance to the quarterfinals of the Italian Open. Swiatek, a two-time Rome champion, is aiming for a rare Madrid-Rome double. She will face Madison Keys in the next round, who secured a victory over Sorana Cirstea in a match interrupted by an environmental protest.
Swiatek faced some challenges in the first set, needing eight set points to secure the win. However, she dominated the second set, clinching a 7-5, 6-3 victory. Keys, who will be Swiatek's next opponent, is looking to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to achieve the 'dirt double' by winning both Madrid and Rome.
Keys' match was briefly suspended due to protesters invading the court and throwing confetti. Despite the disruption, Keys maintained her focus and eventually sealed the win. The incident highlighted the growing trend of such disruptions in tennis matches.
Meanwhile, American player Coco Gauff staged a comeback to defeat Paula Badosa and secure her spot in the quarterfinals. On the men's side, both Madrid finalists suffered third-round exits. Andrey Rublev, the fourth seed in Rome, fell to French qualifier Alexandre Muller, who claimed his first victory over a top-10 player. Felix Auger-Aliassime, the Madrid runner-up, was also defeated by Alex De Minaur.
Defending champion Daniil Medvedev, seeded second, was set to play against Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic in a later match. The Italian Open continues to deliver thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes as the tournament progresses.
