Italian Open: Jannik Sinner equals Novak Djokovic’s record as Coco Gauff battles to beat Mirra Andreeva | Tennis News

Jannik Sinner equaled Novak Djokovic’s record wins at Masters 1000 tournaments with his 31st consecutive victory to reach the quarter-finals at the Italian Open.

The home hero cruised to a 6-2 6-3 victory against qualifier and teammate Andrea Pellegrino at the Foro Italico.

Soni set a new record by winning his fifth consecutive Masters in Madrid last weekend and is now aiming to complete a run of nine titles at the top level of the ATP Tour – something that Djokovic is currently within reach.

The World No 1 Sinner has dropped just two sets since losing his last match against Jakub Mensik in February.

The Italian will face off next Andrei Rublev in the quarter-finals on Thursday after Rublev fought back to beat Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in a three-set thriller 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.

Second seed Alexander Zverev was surprised by another Italian seed, the 18th Luciano Darderiwho fought back from the set and 5-3 down and saved four match points to win 1-6 7-6 (12-10) 6-0.

Zverev slammed the court’s condition, telling reporters in the Italian capital: “I think this is the worst court I’ve ever played on.”

“Young, trained, future, practice, I have never played on a field where the quality of the field is not that good. I have a match point and the ball jumps over my head. I have a break point, the ball rolls.”

Darderi will face the 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodarwho continued his incredible season by becoming the first teenager to reach the men’s quarter-finals in Rome since Djokovic back in 2007.

Jodar defeated Student Tien 6-1 6-4 in the period Casper Ruud upset Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti.

Gauff fights again in the quarter-finals

In the women’s quarterfinal, Coco Gauff bounced back to win her third match in a row in Rome as she defeated Mirra Andreeva 4-6 6-2 6-4.

The topsy-turvy match looked set to go Andreeva’s way as the 19-year-old won the first set but Gauff overcame her mistakes to outlast her opponent in the rest of the match.

However, the American player did not make it easy after the spread when she led the final set 5-1 but found a way to get over the line against the energetic Andreeva.

“I tried to stay there mentally again. I had the lead in the third set, it was close but Mirra is a good player and knows how to win games, so I learned a little bit how to close things out but I’m glad I was able to win,” said Gauff.

Veteran from Romania Sorry Cirsteawho upset world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka earlier in the tournament, continued her good run with a 6-1 7-6 (7-0) win over Jelena Ostapenko.

Watch the Italian Open in Rome until this Sunday, live on Sky Sports or stream NOW with the Sky Sports app.