Jannik Sinner returned to center stage at the Foro Italico with a composed performance that sent him into the last 16 of the Italian Open. In his third-round match, the world number one cruised past Dutchman Jesper de Jong 6-4, 6-2 in 93 minutes. It was only his second match since returning from a three-month suspension related to the clostebol case.
Sinner dictated the tempo throughout, and his path was eased after De Jong suffered a wrist injury during the second set. The Dutch player chose to play on despite visible discomfort, earning respect from the crowd. Up next for Sinner is a familiar face: Francisco Cerundolo, the Argentine who eliminated him from the Rome Masters last year.
Meanwhile, Jasmine Paolini delivered another inspiring performance, defeating Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-2 to reach her first Rome quarterfinal. Ranked No. 5 in the world, the Italian stayed composed under pressure and dictated play with smart shot selection. “It was a really tough match. I just tried to hold on and it worked,” said Paolini. “Playing here in front of a packed stadium is something special.”
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She will now face Russia’s Diana Shnaider, who advanced after a straight-set win over Elise Mertens (6-2, 6-3). As Italian tennis thrives in both draws, all eyes will also be on Matteo Berrettini, who faces a tough test against seventh seed Casper Ruud.
