Dimitrov ends Sinner run; Berrettini, Shapovalov through in Rome
Jannik Sinner’s superb run at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia comes to an end on Friday at the hands of Grigor Dimitrov. Next up for Dimitrov is Denis Shapovalov, a three-set winner over Ugo Humbert.
Jannik Sinner, Rome 2020
The results we expected
19-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner had beaten Benoit Paire in round one of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and then taken out third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a brilliant second-round performance. On Friday, he almost produced a third upset but fell just short, going down 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Grigor Dimitrov. Sinner will rise to No 73 in the world, just five places short of his career-high.
Dimitrov, Rome’s No 15 seed, faces Canadian Denis Shapovalov next after the 12th-seeded Canadian battled past Ugo Humbert 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4.
💥QUARTER-FINALIST💥
After an intense battle #Dimitrov defeats #Sinner 4-6 6-4 6-4#IBI20 pic.twitter.com/MK9LQKyhy6— Internazionali Bnl (@InteBNLdItalia) September 18, 2020
It’s already been a great tournament for Italy, and No 4 seed Matteo Berrettini is looking stronger with every match. Berrettini was pushed hard, though, by fellow Italian Stefano Travaglia 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1) and now plays Casper Ruud of Norway.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic survived a tough first set against fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic before prevailing 7-6(3), 6-3 in two hours and seven minutes. No 2 Rafael Nadal won in much easier fashion, dominating another Serb — Dusan Lajovic — with the loss of only four games.
The surprises that happened
Former US Open champion Marin Cilic is a former semi-finalist in Rome, but he was outplayed by Casper Ruud. The Norwegian took Cilic down 6-2, 7-6(6) to reach his first Masters 1000 quarter-final.
Qualifier Lorenzo Musetti moved from the role of underdog to favorite after upsetting Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori in succession, but the 18-year-old went down to fellow qualifier Dominik Koepfer on Friday. The German cruised 6-4, 6-0 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Djokovic.
Hard-fought battle of the day
No 8 seed Diego Schwartzman overcame Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes. Schwartzman’s reward is a Saturday showdown against Nadal.
