Day seven at the Italian Open delivered a one-sided spectacle on the WTA side, where the top seeds imposed their authority with rare collective dominance. On the ATP side, the favorites held firm ahead of a decisive Sunday.
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Iga Swiatek set the tone by dispatching Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1, 6-0 in just 67 minutes. The Pole reeled off nine consecutive games after trailing 1-3 in the first set, converting five of her seven break points. A commanding display on the clay surface where she thrives.
Jessica Pegula went even further in terms of raw scoreline with a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Rebeka Masarova, the first double bagel of her career. Naomi Osaka continued her impressive comeback with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Diana Shnaider, winning 12 of the first 13 points. Elena Rybakina, now with a tour-leading 29th win of the season, defeated Alexandra Eala 6-4, 6-3 with 28 winners.
The lone upset came from Nikola Bartůňková, 20, who ousted Madison Keys 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. The Czech reaches the round of 16 at a WTA 1000 for the first time, securing the decisive break in the tenth game of the final set.
On the ATP side, Alexander Zverev dispatched Alexander Blockx 6-1, 6-4 to reach the round of 16. Casper Ruud overcame Jiří Lehečka 6-3, 6-4 in a quality encounter, while Lorenzo Musetti needed a tiebreak to edge past Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(7), 6-4 to the delight of the Roman crowd.
Karen Khachanov ended the fairytale run of Dino Prižmić, Djokovic's conqueror, winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 after dropping the first set. The young Croatian leaves Rome with his head held high after shaking up the draw earlier in the week.
All eyes turn to Sunday at the Stadio Centrale where Jannik Sinner faces Alexei Popyrin in the third round, with a chance to extend his historic Masters 1000 winning streak.
