Zverev cruises into Rome last 16, Sabalenka battles past Kenin

AFP | Rome

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Alexander Zverev continued his Italian Open title defence by cruising past qualifier Vilius Gaubas and reaching the last 16, as Aryna Sabalenka progressed with a battling 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Sofia Kenin.

Zverev barely broke a sweat on centre court against Gaubas, easing to a 6-4, 6-0 win to set up a last-16 clash with France’s Arthur Fils.

The world number two took one hour 26 minutes to see off Gaubas, suggesting that the burn-out he said he was suffering earlier in the year might be behind him.

Zverev is hoping a good defence of his R o m e crown will set him up to go one better than last year at the French Open and be crowned champion.

But he will face a much tougher test against Fils, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, than the one put up by Gaubas.

“In the beginning it was a bit difficult for me, it was also very, very windy,” said Zverev. “The wind really calmed down after the first set and then it’s easier to get into a rhythm, easier for me to have clean strokes.”

It was a good day for French players in the men’s tournament with Fils’ win and world number 83 Corentin Moutet shocking Holger Rune 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) on the picturesque Pietrangeli court to claim his first ever win over a top-10 player.

Fils came through an eventful match with former Rome finalist Tsitsipas which ended with the pair arguing over the net.