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Jannik Sinner matched Novak Djokovic’s record winning streak at Masters 1000 tournaments with his 31st consecutive victory to reach the quarter-finals at the Italian Open.
The home hero eased to a 6-2 6-3 win against qualifier Andrea Pellegrino at the Foro Italico.
Sinner already set a new record by winning a fifth straight Masters tournament in Madrid last weekend and is now aiming to complete the set of nine titles at the top level of the ATP Tour – something only currently achieved by Djokovic.
The world No 1 has dropped only two sets since he lost his most recent match against Jakub Mensik in February.
Second seed Alexander Zverev was stunned by another Italian, 18th seed Luciano Darderi, who fought back from a set and 5-3 down and saved four match points in a 1-6 7-6 (10) 6-0 victory.
Zverev hit out at the condition of the court, telling reporters in the Italian capital: “I think this is the worst court I’ve ever played on.
Alexander Zverev was furious with the state of the court in Rome (Reuters)
“Juniors, professional, futures, practice, I never played on a court where the court quality is that bad. I have match point and the ball jumps over my head. I have break point, the ball rolls.”
Darderi will next face 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, who has continued his stunning breakout season by becoming the first teenager to reach the men’s quarter-finals in Rome since Djokovic back in 2007.
Jodar defeated Learner Tien 6-1 6-4 while Casper Ruud upset Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti.
In the women’s quarter-finals, Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea, who upset world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka earlier in the tournament, continued her brilliant run with a 6-1 7-6 (0) victory over Jelena Ostapenko.
PA