ANOTHER interesting day at the Italian Open fantasy saw four seeds drop from the competition. Overall it was a less predictable round, with less blow-out scorelines and plenty of talent stepping up despite their high-calibre opponent.

Of the six Americans left in the tournament, only three continue through to the Round of 16 after eighth seed Serena Williams, Amanda Anisimova and wildcard Taylor Townsend went down to their respective opposition. While Anisimova and Townsend were underdogs coming up against fifth seed Petra Kvitova and sixteenth seed Madison Keys respectively, Williams was well and truly the favourite against Veronika Kudermetova but did not have the impact she needed early, going down 6-1 2-6 7-5 after pushing Anisimova to her limit in the final set.

Joining Keys in the Round of 16 were compatriots, fifth seed Sofia Kenin and qualifier Sloane Stephens. Stephens continued her solid run with a three-set win over fourth seed Czech Karolina Pliskova while Kenin had a fairly easy match against Polona Hercog, and never looked like losing to the Slovenian. 

While Pliskova fell in the Round of 32, the top three seeds in Ash Barty, Elina Svitolina and Simona Halep all reigned supreme against their unseeded opposition. All three dominated in straight sets though Halep certainly came away with the strongest win, defeating former world number one Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-1.

Speaking of former world number ones, Japanese talent Naomi Osaka has not been able to back up her impressive past few seasons in recent months, falling in the early stages once more to Kristina Mladenovic. Osaka’s lack of consistency has showed on the clay but was well and truly exposed by Mladenovic, who kept Osaka at arms length and forced error after error for the 7-5 7-6 victory.

In relatively predictable but not entirely flashy wins, sixth seed Garbine Muguruza and tenth seed Aryna Sabalenka both made it through unscathed. Muguruza had a fairly easy time against wildcard Elisabetta Cocciaretto though Sabalenka was put through her paces by Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, reigning supreme in the straight sets win but taken to tiebreakers in both sets, winning 7-6 7-5.

Fifteenth seed Elena Rybakina had a slight dip in the second set but otherwise was fairly consistent in her 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over qualifier Anastasija Sevastova. A trio of unseeded names in Tamara Zidansek, Petra Martic and Elise Mertens all defeated their seeded opposition, with qualifier Zidansek claiming the biggest win over claycourt star Kiki Bertens, running out straight sets winner alongside Mertens who put out a solid performance against Johanna Konta.

The final match of the round was fairly straightforward after an interesting first set as Anett Kontaveit and Jil Teichmann traded blows, seeing Kontaveit reign supreme after a tough second set tiebreaker.

A couple big seeded matchups headline the Round of 16, as Sabalenka goes head to head with Kenin, while Kvitova will look to force Muguruza from her path to success.

ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[1] Ash Barty (AUS) defeated Maria Sakkari (GRE) 6-3 7-5
[2] Elina Svitolina (UKR) defeated Karolina Muchova (CZE) 7-6 6-3
[3] Simona Halep (ROU) defeated Angelique Kerber (GER) 6-4 6-1
[Q] Sloane Stephens (USA) defeated [4] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 4-6 6-3 6-3
[5] Sofia Kenin (USA) defeated Polona Hercog (SLO) 6-4 6-3
[6] Garbine Muguruza (ESP) defeated [WC] Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) 6-2 6-4
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) defeated [7] Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7-5 7-6
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) defeated [8] Serena Williams (USA) 6-1 2-6 7-5
[9] Petra Kvitova (CZE) defeated Amanda Anisimova (USA) 6-3 7-5
[10] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 7-6 7-5
[Q] Tamara Zidansek (SLO) defeated [11] Kiki Bertens (NED) 7-6 6-2
Petra Martic (CRO) defeated [12] Belinda Bencic (SUI) 6-1 2-6 6-1
Elise Mertens (BEL) defeated [14] Johanna Konta (GBR) 6-4 6-2
[15] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) defeated [Q] Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 6-4 3-6 6-3
[16] Madison Keys (USA) defeated [WC] Taylor Townsend (USA) 6-4 1-6 6-3
Anett Kontaveit (EST) defeated [Q] Jil Teichmann (SUI) 6-3 7-6