IT was a mostly predictable day of Round of 32 results at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, as all bar two seeds proceeded to the third round following convincing wins. Just two were taken to three sets in a fairly comprehensive day on the clay.

Eight of the 10 seeds proceeded, as just Daniil Medvedev (third seed) and David Goffin (12th) fell to unseeded opposition. Medvedev was well and truly outclassed by his compatriot Aslan Karatsev, starting slow and unable to ever really command control of the 6-2 6-4 encounter.

“I’m super happy,” Karatsev said. “It was a really tough match. Against Medvedev you never know, he’s a big server. It’s tough to return, but I managed it well.”

Where it is usually Medvedev who hits big, it was Karatsev that claimed a 90 per cent winning rate off his first serve, converting three break points in the process to claim the one hour and 17 minute victory. For Goffin, it was an even worse result coming up against in-form qualifier Federico Delbonis, who swept the Belgian away with a 67 minute, 6-2 6-1 win. Like Karatsev, Delbonis was impressive on serve winning 82 per cent of his first serve points and rendered Goffin error-ridden to claim the match.

The two three setters of the day both saw the higher ranked of the draw reign supreme, however not by much as both Dominic Thiem and Andrey Rublev were tested in their respective encounters. For Thiem, it took a big momentum swing at 1-3 to steal back the second and claim a bagel in the third to command victory, eventually disposing of hungry Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, 3-6 7-6 6-0.

“It was such a close match, especially in the second set,” said Thiem. “I knew he’d be a super-tough opponent, particularly coming from different conditions in Madrid. I was fighting all the match and stayed in there. At the end, I got the reward for fighting. I had difficulties with my timing and my serve. I have to hurt my opponent more with my shots. I still won a great match and I will try to improve for tomorrow.”

Rublev’s matchup went far differently, with opposition Jan-Lennard Struff only marginally taking out the first set before Rublev arrested back control once more.

Remaining seeds in Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini, Roberto Bautista Agut and Denis Shapovalov all continued their winning ways, as unseeded duo Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Lorenzo Sonego joined the winners list and head to the Round of 16.

INTERNAZIONALI BNL D’ITALIA ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) defeated Jannik Sinner (ITA) 7-5 6-4
Aslan Karatsev (RUS) defeated [3] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 6-2 6-4
[4] Dominic Thiem (AUT) defeated Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 3-6 7-6 6-0
[5] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) defeated Marin Cilic (CRO) 7-5 6-2
[6] Alexander Zverev (GER) defeated [Q] Hugo Dellien (BOL) 6-2 6-2
[7] Andrey Rublev (RUS) defeated Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-7 6-1 6-4
[9] Matteo Berrettini (ITA) defeated John Millman (AUS) 6-4 6-2
[10] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) defeated Cristian Garin (CHI) 7-6 6-3
[Q] Federico Delbonis (ARG) defeated [12] David Goffin (BEL) 6-2 6-1
[13] Denis Shapovalov (CAN) defeated [WC] Stefano Travaglia (ITA) 7-6 6-3
[Q] Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) defeated [Q] Cameron Norrie (GBR) 6-2 6-3
Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) defeated [WC] Gianluca Mager (ITA) 6-4 6-4

Picture credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour