Alcaraz advances to the Italian Open quarterfinals; Sinner faces a test vs. Cerundolo
Carlos Alcaraz secured a hard-fought victory over Karen Khachanov, advancing to the Italian Open quarterfinals with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win despite physical fatigue. Alcaraz, who wore a brace on his right leg due to past injuries, improved his record to 12-1 on clay this season and will face Jack Draper next, holding a slight career advantage over him. Alcaraz's previous participation in the Italian Open was marked by an early exit, yet he rebounded to win two Grand Slam titles afterward. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner was set to face Francisco Cerundolo, marking a significant challenge upon his return from a doping ban. The Italian Open serves as a crucial preparatory event for players ahead of the French Open, with both men's and women's competitions intensifying at this stage.
Context:
Carlos Alcaraz secured a hard-fought victory over Karen Khachanov, advancing to the Italian Open quarterfinals with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win despite physical fatigue. Alcaraz, who wore a brace on his right leg due to past injuries, improved his record to 12-1 on clay this season and will face Jack Draper next, holding a slight career advantage over him. Alcaraz's previous participation in the Italian Open was marked by an early exit, yet he rebounded to win two Grand Slam titles afterward. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner was set to face Francisco Cerundolo, marking a significant challenge upon his return from a doping ban. The Italian Open serves as a crucial preparatory event for players ahead of the French Open, with both men's and women's competitions intensifying at this stage.
Dive Deeper:
Carlos Alcaraz worked through a challenging match to defeat Karen Khachanov and secure a place in the Italian Open quarterfinals, showcasing resilience despite struggling with fatigue during the match.
Alcaraz wore a protective brace on his right leg, a precaution due to prior injuries that forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open and impacted his performance earlier in the season.
With a successful clay season record of 12-1, Alcaraz is set to face Jack Draper, a player against whom he holds a narrow career lead, although Draper won their most recent encounter.
In the previous year’s Italian Open, Alcaraz was unexpectedly ousted in the third round due to a forearm injury, yet he later achieved significant success by winning the French Open and Wimbledon.
Jannik Sinner, returning from a three-month doping suspension, was scheduled to face Francisco Cerundolo, marking Sinner's most challenging match since his return.
The Italian Open is a pivotal event leading up to the French Open, providing players with essential match practice and competition at a high level on clay courts.
The women's quarterfinals featured matches involving home favorite Jasmine Paolini and two-time Rome champion Elina Svitolina, adding to the tournament's competitive atmosphere.