Rybakina, Ostapenko Winners At Rome Masters; Swiatek Delayed Due To Rain

Six of the eight fourth round matches were completed on Monday at the Rome Masters before the rain finally put an end to play just before 10pm.

Iga Swiatek’s duel with Donna Vekic and the Paula Badosa-Karolina Muchova were pushed until tomorrow.

Before the weather, Elena Rybakina powered her way past former French finalist Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 6-3.

The Wimbledon champion broke five times including two quick ones to go up 3-0 in the second to ice the win.

“Coming here I didn’t expect much because unfortunately Rome for me is the worst for my allergies,” Rybakina said to the WTA. “I’m happy that I’m managing to win and get these matches.

“I’m happy to stay aggressive,” she added. “There were some moments it was up and down but overall it was a good match, good serving from me. For sure now I need as many matches as I can to be more confident at the French Open.”

Rybakina could see another rematch with Swiatek on Wednesday.

Former French champion Jelena Ostapenko advanced to the quarters defeating 8th-seeded Daria Kasatkina bageling the Russian in the third 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.

Other matches saw the 11th-seeded Veronika Kudermetova enjoy a comfortable win over No. 27 Marie Bouzkova 6-2, 6-2. The 22nd-seeded Qinwen Zheng moved past Xiyu Wang 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

No. 30 seed Anhelina Kalinina upset the 19th-seeded former runner-up Madison Keys 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. And No. 12 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia dismissed Colombia’s Camila Osorio 6-3, 6-3.

The Tuesday line-up also sees the start of the quarterfinals. Kudermetova gets Zheng. Zheng came out ahead in their lone collision in Tokyo last year.

And Haddad Maia clashes with Kalinina. Kalinina won their lone contest last year in Miami.