Rome - 11/05

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Today is Monday, May 11, in Rome it is 08:30 and it's 17 degrees. OK, let's get started.

On today's menu

• 🇮🇹 Musetti into the round of 16: Cerundolo beaten in two sets on Centre Court
• 🇮🇹 Darderi comes back to beat Paul and joins Musetti in the round of 16
• 🇮🇹 Arnaldi falls to Jodar, Cocciaretto crushed by Świątek
• 🇩🇪 Zverev dispatches Blockx in just over an hour
• 🇮🇹 Sinner-Popyrin in the afternoon: third round on Centre Court
• 🇮🇹 Cobolli, Bellucci, Pellegrino and Medvedev on today's schedule

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY:

🇮🇹 Musetti Into The Round Of 16

Lorenzo Musetti beat Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 6-4 on Centre Court, handling in two sets an opponent who on the eve of the match was being labelled as the first real test of his tournament. The first set went to a tiebreak after an hour and a few stretches of dips from both players, and there Musetti found the two points that shaped the evening. More than the score, what counts is the feeling that the Tuscan managed the tight moments with a coolness that in Rome, in front of his home crowd, was not at all a given. In the round of 16 he will face Casper Ruud, who yesterday got past Lehecka.

🇮🇹 Darderi Comes Back Against Paul

Luciano Darderi came back to beat Tommy Paul 3-6 6-3 6-2 after going down a set against a player who on clay can play much better than his ranking suggests. The comeback started from a second set in which the Italian-Argentine lengthened the average rally, forcing the American out of his rhythm. In the third, helped by a few too many errors from Paul, Darderi closed it out without conceding another break point. Rome is turning into one of those weeks in which Darderi seems to understand something more about his own tennis every match he plays.

🇪🇸 Jodar Shuts Down Arnaldi

Rafa Jodar eliminated Matteo Arnaldi 6-1 4-6 6-3 in a match that the player from Sanremo seemed able to turn around after levelling things up in the second set. The young Spaniard, seeded number 32 in the draw, waited for Arnaldi's intensity to drop before taking the match back into his own hands at the end. For Arnaldi it still remains a week that was not predictable at the start of the tournament, especially after his win over De Minaur. The feeling is that the defeat weighs less than the direction his spring seems to have finally taken.

🇵🇱 Świątek Steamrolls Cocciaretto

Iga Świątek beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1 6-0 in just over an hour, in a match where the Pole played the kind of tennis we hadn't seen with this consistency for a few tournaments. The player from the Marche region, who had already built a week that was precious for her ranking, found herself facing an opponent who on clay remains a tough measure to handle for most of the tour. More than the difference in shot-making, it was the depth on the return that opened up the court, and in those kinds of exchanges Cocciaretto never had a way to get into the match. For Świątek, this is the first concrete sign in this Rome of a version that resembles her best years on clay.

🇩🇪 Zverev Cruises Through

Alexander Zverev beat Alexander Blockx 6-1 6-4 in one hour and fourteen minutes, handling without too much trouble a third round against an opponent who had also shown something interesting in his two previous matches. The world number three held serve at high percentages from the very first games and took advantage of the opening phase to wrap up the first set with a break already in the bag. In the second set, Blockx stayed close but never really put the result in doubt. For Zverev, in the round of 16, the part of the tournament where difficulties usually start now begins.

🇺🇦 Svitolina With No Trouble

Elina Svitolina beat Hailey Baptiste 6-1 6-2 closing out her third round with the ease of someone finding a good rhythm week after week. The number seven seed controlled the rally from the first game, taking advantage of a day in which the American couldn't find depth on her baseline shots. It's the kind of win that doesn't say much on its own, but in the round of 16 counts as a saving of energy, especially looking ahead to a week that promises to be long.

WHAT'S ON TODAY:

• 🇮🇹 Sinner vs Popyrin - Third round, third match on Centre Court, not before 15:00. The Australian comes in off a comeback over Mensik that finished late at night; Sinner is looking for confirmation after his opener against Ofner, against a player who in Rome can do damage if he finds his first serve.
• 🇮🇹 Cobolli vs Tirante - Evening session on Centre Court, not before 19:00. Cobolli looks to confirm the level shown in the second round against an Argentine who on clay knows how to make every rally tough.
• 🇷🇺 Medvedev vs Llamas Ruiz - BNP Paribas Arena, in the afternoon. The Russian arrives at the third round without having played a point after Machac's walkover in the second round, and today is effectively his debut in Rome, against a Spaniard who is a variable not to be underestimated.
• 🇮🇹 Bellucci vs Landaluce - BNP Paribas Arena, opening at 11:00. Bellucci looks for another step forward after his comeback against Etcheverry, against an emerging young Spaniard.
• 🇮🇹 Pellegrino vs Tiafoe - BNP Paribas Arena, not before 15:00. Pellegrino tries to make the most of the gift from the draw, but Tiafoe on clay remains an opponent of an entirely different calibre.

Read more

• Musetti into the round of 16 at the 2026 Rome Internazionali: Cerundolo beaten in two sets
• Rome Internazionali: Arnaldi out against Jodar, Darderi knocks out Paul, Musetti advances
• Zverev beats Blockx in two sets and flies into the round of 16 in Rome
• ATP/WTA Rome, the schedule for Monday May 11: Sinner not before 15:00, Cobolli at 19:00
• Schedule and where to watch the next match of Sinner in Rome against Popyrin
• Rome: Popyrin sets Sinner showdown after late-night upset of Mensik

Have a good breakfast and have a great day.

See you tomorrow at 08:30 with TIE-Breakfast