Janik Siner had the toughest match and first big test after returning to the court, and he passed it again without dropping a set.
The world number one advanced to the quarterfinals of the Masters in Rome, in front of his home crowd, with a tough victory over Argentine Francisco Serundolo, tougher than the score suggests - 7:6, 6:3.
Siner, who had defeated another Argentine, Navone, as well as Dutchman De Jong in the previous two matches, dropped a break advantage in the first set and that part of the game, after a great fight, in which most of the games were played on the difference, was only resolved in a tie-break (7:2).
It seemed that the duel on the Central Court of the Foro Italiko complex would be a one-way street when Siner took a 5:1 lead in the second set, with two break points, Serundolo returned one, almost another - he missed two break points to reduce to 5:4 and serve for the tie.
Siner, in the end, only scored his fourth match point.
Tomorrow, in the quarterfinals, they will play the winner of the Kasper Rudd - Jaime Munar duel. That match was scheduled for late tonight (the schedule was disrupted by rain today), but who knows, it might even take place on Wednesday...
Carlos Alcaraz advanced further, defeating the persistent Russian Karen Khachanov in three sets (6:3, 3:6, 5:7), and tomorrow he will face Briton Draper, who defeated Frenchman Moutet in a thrilling match.
Italian Lorenzo Musetti eliminated Daniil Medvedev (7:5, 6:4) and will face Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals - the German also eliminated Frenchman Fils in straight sets (7:6, 6:1).
Hubert Hurkač also advanced, with a tough victory, achieved in two tiebreaks and with the loss of one set (7:6, 4:6, 7:6), against Czech Jakub Menšik.
Bonus video:
