Daniil suffers a set then changes gears driven by Central supporters. Rublev will face Hanfmann
To face the German Hanfmann, who interrupted Marco Cecchinato’s run, will be Andrey Rublev, who struggles a lot but manages to overcome Davidovich Fokina: in the first set the Russian spoils the break and then is back to the wall when at the tie- break has to cancel three set points, before taking the match home on the third attempt (it ends 10-8 a beautiful tie-break). The Spaniard’s resistance collapses and in the second set the Russian strolls, closing 6-3.
Medvedev okay
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Daniil Medvedev also struggles, starting badly against Zapata Miralles, losing 6-3 in just over half an hour. In the second set, the Russian changes gears and wins 6-1, with Zapata giving up to play everything in the third set. The best set is the decisive one, with Medvedev who, with some knee problems, still manages to break serve in the seventh game. Hugely supported by the centre-back crowd (something that doesn’t happen much to Medvedev who said he really appreciates Rome), Daniil closes 6-3 and wins in comeback. In the round of 16 the world number 3 could have Sascha Zverev, who won in Rome in 2017 and was ahead of the American Wolff before the rain interruption: the German closes the first set 6-4 and then must stop at 3-3 in the second set.