Shapovalov next up for Nadal in Rome
Rafael Nadal, ranked No. 3 in the world, fended off a challenge from 19-year-old Jannik Sinner on Wednesday to advance to the next round of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome.
The 34-year-old Nadal earned the 7-5, 6-4 win over Sinner, who has emerged as a rising star and reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final recently at the Miami Open. Nadal needed two hours and 10 minutes to move on to face 13th-seeded Denis Shapovalov of Canada in the third round.
Shapovalov topped wild card Stefano Travaglia of Italy, 7-6(2), 6-3 in an hour and 35 minutes. This will be Shapovalov's fourth career match against Nadal, who holds a 2-1 advantage in the first three meetings.
In other action, fourthseeded Dominic Thiem of Austria edged Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-0 in a match that required two hours and 33 minutes.
Italian Lorenzo Sonego awaits Thiem in the next round after knocking off wild card Gianluca Mager of Italy 6-4, 6-4 in 87 minutes.
Aslan Karatsev of Russia upset third-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia by a margin of 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 18 minutes. His next match will be against Reilly Opelka of the U.S.
In other action, fifth-seeded
Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece won in straight sets over Croatia's Marin Cilic; No. 6 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany won in straight sets; seventh-seeded Andrey Rublev of Russia rallied to defeat German Jan-Lennard Struff; No. 9 Matteo Berrettini of Italy won in straight sets over Australian John Millman; and 10th-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain won in straight sets.
Qualifier Federico Delbonis of Argentina defeated No. 12 David Goffin of Germany 6-2, 6-1.
SERENA WILLIAMS LOSES MILESTONE MATCH
Argentina's Nadia Podoroska shocked No. 8 seed Serena Williams 7-6 (6), 7-5 in the second round Wednesday at the Italian Open, spoiling the 23-time Grand Slam champion's 1,000th career match.
The one-hour, 58-minute match was Williams' first since the Australian Open.
“It's tough to have a first match on clay,” said Williams, who twice came back from a break down in the opening set and fought off three set points in the tiebreaker. “It was definitely kind of good to go the distance and try to be out there, but clearly I can do legions better.”
The victory over the fourtime Italian Open champion was Podoroska's third career win against a Top 10 opponent.
“It's special win,” said Podoroska, 24. “To play against her, it's an honour for me. I saw her playing when I grew up, so it was a special match for me. But most of all, I'm happy with the way I played.”
Williams, 39, was hardly the day's only upset victim.
No. 2 seed Naomi Osaka of Japan also fell in straight sets to American Jessica Pegula, 7-6 (2), 6-2, while Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic sent No. 4 Sofia Kenin packing with a 6-1, 6-4 win.
Russia's Vera Zvonareva outlasted No. 11 seed Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. American Coco Gauff eliminated 17th-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-1, 1-6, 6-1.
No. 3 seed Simona Halep of Romania was leading 6-1, 3-3 when she was forced to retire with a calf injury against Germany's Angelique Kerber.
Top-seeded Ashleigh Barty of Australia took care of business with a 6-4, 6-1 win against Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan.
Other seeded players advancing safely to the third round included No. 5 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, No. 7 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, No. 9 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, No. 12 Garbine Muguruza of Spain and No. 15 Iga Swiatek of Poland.