Sinner waits out the rain to reach Rome quarters

Jannik Sinner waited out a rain delay of five hours before taking to the Foro Italico clay for a 7-6 (2), 6-3 win over Francisco Cerundolo to reach the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters on Tuesday.

Afternoon rainstorms disrupted the schedule, with the Italian top seed forced to kill time until finally getting onto Centre court in heavy, humid conditions.

But the top seed was not particularly bothered as he won his 24th match in a row  in two and a quarter hours, finishing the evening’s job with an eight-minute game on his fourth match point.

The  world No. 1 struck 17 winners and was helped by more than 50 unforced errors from his Argentine opponent.

The match featured 20 break points in total, with Sinner converting on only three of his dozen.

“He’s a tough competitor, it was a real challenge for me,” the winner said. 

“Especially now trying to get used to so many difficult situations on the court. I just tried to stay there mentally, trying to play every point. 

“But I’m very happy because I felt like I raised my level. Game wise, I felt a little bit better. 

“It was very heavy conditions, and it was a long day. The crowd helped me, so I’m happy to go through.” 

Three-time Grand Slam winner Sinner has reached the quarter-finals of every event he has played since the start of 2024.

Italian tennis was celebrating after Lorenzo Musetti also reached the last eight with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Daniil Medvedev.

Though the Italian withdrew from doubles with a right arm injury, he is expected to front up for his last-eight match against second seed Alexander Zverev, who beat Arthur Fils 7-6 (3), 6-1.

It will mark the first time since 1984 two Italian men have reached the Rome quarters through Claudio Panatta and Francesco Cancellotti.