(Photo credit score: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
The top-seeded gamers competing early on Sunday in Rome cruised to victories within the third spherical on the Italian Open.
Second-seeded Elina Rybakina of Kazakhstan routed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines 6-4, 6-3, whereas fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula had a simple time towards Rebeka Masarova, blanking the Swiss participant 6-0, 6-0.
Two-time Rome champion and No. 7 seed Elina Svitolina routed No. 32 Hailey Baptiste 6-1, 6-2, whereas resurgent No. 15 Naomi Osaka of Japan took out No. 19 Diana Shnaider of Russia 6-1, 6-2.
Rybakina, who improved to 29-6 in 2026, performed a dominant all-around sport. She had six aces with no double faults on the Rome clay, confronted just one break level whereas successful almost 50% (36 of 76) of the factors on Eala’s serve.
Rybakina broke the serve of the 20-year-old Eala within the third sport of the match after which thrice within the second set to maneuver on to the fourth spherical.
Svitolina, who captured back-to-back Rome titles in 2017 and 2018, cooled the just lately surging Baptiste and avenged an earlier loss to the Washington, D.C. native on the Miami Open. The Ukrainian fended off all 5 break factors towards her and transformed 4 of 8 break-point possibilities.
Osaka was spectacular, taking solely 54 minutes to repel Shnaider. She served exceedingly properly, successful 21 of 27 factors on her first serve 31 of 41 factors (75.6%) on both serve. Osaka received a convincing 55 of 80 factors total.
There had been two upsets within the third spherical as fortunate loser Nikola Bartunkova of the Czech Republic ousted No. 17 Madison Keys 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 and fast-rising Anastasia Potapova of Austria, eradicated No. 20 Liudmila Samsonova of Russia 6-3, 6-2.
Bartunkova turned the primary fortunate loser — a participant eradicated throughout qualifying, however incomes a spot because of a participant withdrawal — to achieve the fourth spherical in Rome since 2013.
‘I do not know actually how I did it,’ Bartunkova mentioned. ‘I attempted my finest, my finest pictures. (Having enjoyable) is my character. I beloved tennis since after I was a child, so I take pleasure in each second, each hit.’
–Field Level Media