Swiatek Moves On At Rome Masters While Sakkari, Gauff Out; Fourth Round Monday

Defending champion Iga Swiatek went down a break 2-0 to Lesia Tsurenko before turning on the jets winning 12 straight games to win it 6-2, 6-0 and reach the Rome Masters sweet 16.

The world No. 1 never faced another break point after the first game of the match.

Two more top seeds fells as the upsets continued in Rome.

Former French Open finalist Coco Gauff was bounced by No. 27 seed Marie Bouzkova rallying from a set down to take it 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

“Even after the first set, I just kept on fighting, and I kind of knew that I had to elevate my game to get the win today, and at least stay in the match,” Bouzkova said to the WTA. “I think I did that pretty well, and then my service games started to work, and I just started to feel really comfortable on the court.

“I love to play here. I think in Europe, it might be my favorite tournament. I didn’t play here last year, so I was really looking forward to playing here. I like the conditions and I like the crowd here, it gives me so much energy.”

The 19-year-old Gauff struggled on serve and finding the court in the last two sets. In fact she never saw a break point after the first. The Czech took the last four games of the match. Gauff goes into her French final defense with just a 3-3 mark on the clay.

A past French semifinalist, No. 9 seed Maria Sakkari fell to former French finalist Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-3.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina advanced via a first set retirement from Anna Kalinskaya.

No. 8 seed Daria Kasatkina had to work to eliminate Julia Grabher in three 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7-2). In a battle of French winners, the 20th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko shocked No. 10 seed Barbora Krejcikova 7-6(7-2), 6-0.

The 21st-seeded Donna Vekic took out the 16th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova 2-6, 7-6(7-5), 6-2. (25y,35r) Paula Badosa upset upended No. 32 Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-2 and Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic defeated home favorite Camila Giorgi 7-6(7-4), 6-2.

Madison Keys got a walkover from Victoria Azarenka who withdrew with a right leg injury.

Tomorrow in a full day of fourth round play, Swiatek locks up with Vekic. Swiatek is a perfect 3-0 against Vekic in their tour-level battles including a win last year in the San Diego final.

Rybakina faces Vondrousova, Kasatkina collides with Ostapenko, No. 11 Veronika Kudermetova battles Bouzkova and also Karolina Muchova will play Paula Badosa.

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