De Minaur progresses despite interruption by air aces
An overhead in tennis normally means being lobbed but it was a different aerial intervention that troubled Alex de Minaur in Rome.
The Australian No.1 was progressing well towards the last 16 despite the distraction of an unwell spectator when his match with Bolivian qualifier Hugo Dellien was interrupted by a flypast by the Italian Air Force's acrobatic team, the Frecce Tricolori (Tricolour arrows).
The seventh-seeded de Minaur lost focus, and his serve, before getting back on track to win 6-4 6-4.
"I didn't handle it very well, because I got broken straight away," said de Minaur who now plays 12th-seeded American Tommy Paul.
"I did well to bounce back and get the break back, but I've got to be a little bit better mentally to not let those things, outside factors affect me."
Also seeking to regain focus is Jannik Sinner, who is making his comeback after his controversial three-month doping ban.
The world No. 1 overcame a brief lapse during the first set of a 6-4 6-2 victory over Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong in his second match back on tour in front of his home crowd.
Sinner raced to 4-1 but then lost his serve twice as De Jong evened the set at 4-4.
There were poor drop shots, an inopportune double fault and other errors from Sinner.
But he regained control with his powerful groundstrokes and big serve and extended his winning streak to 23 matches, dating to October.
Just like in his opening win over Mariano Navone on Saturday, the fans at the Foro Italico were fully behind Sinner — Italy's first No. 1.
"It's good to have him back," de Minaur's next opponent Paul said of Sinner, after beating Tomas Machac 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-4. "He's such a big figure in the sport. He sets the bar right now."
The last Italian man to win in Rome was Adriano Panatta in 1976.
Sinner next faces 17th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo, who beat Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner 6-2, 6-4.
Another Italian favourite Matteo Berrettini was forced to retire when 7-5 2-0 down against sixth-seed Casper Ruud.
This followed retiring in Madrid with an abdominal injury. Berrettini had not been fit to play in Rome for four years.
"I feel so bad for him because this is where he's from, his home Masters 1000," said Ruud, who signed the camera 'Sorry Matteo. Feel better!' "I know he hasn't played since 2021 because of other injuries.
There were also wins for Jakub Mensik, Hubert Hurkacz and Jaume Munar.
with AP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
'Unbelievable' Aussie pace pack lord it at Lord's again
At the party they always get to host but never get the chance to play in, English cricket has again been left to gaze on enviously on that old Australian cut-throat firm of Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Smith, who have been lording it at Lord's for years. First up, in this third World Test final to be staged in England, it had been that old nuisance Steve Smith, in all his familiar idiosyncratic glory even while suffering with a dose of the flu, marking himself the all-time overseas top scorer in all Lord's Tests with a knock of 66 that took his total to 591 in 10 innings. Er, Bradman only got 551 in eight. And even if that other 'old firm' of Smith and Marnus Labuschagne looked as if it could be on its last legs after perhaps one unconvincing struggle too many from the junior partner, the self-styled 'home of cricket' was then left to witness the familiar excellence of Australia's three-pronged mean, green, pace machine doing its stuff. Even the egg 'n bacon-tied MCC brigade in the Long Room, on their very best behaviour this time, couldn't help but applaud the 'big three'. After all, who knows how long Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc can keep up the sort of heroics after eight years working in perfect harmony at the Test coalface? "It's unbelievable. Me and (Cameron) Greeny were watching from the slips and gully and it looked like every ball they were going to make something happen," said an admiring Beau Webster as he got a close-up view of the trio who've never been on a losing final in an ICC event when they've all been on the same side. Their combined 4-34 off a combined 21 overs felt like a rinse-and-repeat show to infect every English fan's nightmares. Mean, tight and destructive, the three now have 959 Test wickets between them - and counting quickly. Could they actually be better than ever? Starc was just as menacing as usual while being even less expensive; Hazlewood, coming off a full IPL season, looked fresh and immensely sharp. Cummins was just Cummins, leading from the front, probing relentlessly. "They've done it for a long time, haven't they?" smiled Smith. "Today was no different. They all bowled really nicely." After Australia had struggled to 212, they knew they had to hit back sharpish. "When you know you've only got a couple of hours to bowl in the night, you can probably give a little bit more knowing you can have a break afterwards," said Smith, praising Starc's 2-10 contribution in particular. "I looked this up today and kind of forget every now and again, Starcy, he's played 97 Tests with this one, which is a hell of an effort for a fast bowler. He's just relentless with his body, a tough character. He bowls through a lot of pain and things like that. "The three have been great, and hopefully they can come again in the morning and make a few early inroads." Webster, the 'Slug from Snug', will take his place back in the catching cordon and just enjoy. "They're a luxury we've had for a lot of years and it's not going to last for ever, but we are still in a good place," mused the Tasmanian. "And the less overs I have to bowl the better!" At the party they always get to host but never get the chance to play in, English cricket has again been left to gaze on enviously on that old Australian cut-throat firm of Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Smith, who have been lording it at Lord's for years. First up, in this third World Test final to be staged in England, it had been that old nuisance Steve Smith, in all his familiar idiosyncratic glory even while suffering with a dose of the flu, marking himself the all-time overseas top scorer in all Lord's Tests with a knock of 66 that took his total to 591 in 10 innings. Er, Bradman only got 551 in eight. And even if that other 'old firm' of Smith and Marnus Labuschagne looked as if it could be on its last legs after perhaps one unconvincing struggle too many from the junior partner, the self-styled 'home of cricket' was then left to witness the familiar excellence of Australia's three-pronged mean, green, pace machine doing its stuff. Even the egg 'n bacon-tied MCC brigade in the Long Room, on their very best behaviour this time, couldn't help but applaud the 'big three'. After all, who knows how long Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc can keep up the sort of heroics after eight years working in perfect harmony at the Test coalface? "It's unbelievable. Me and (Cameron) Greeny were watching from the slips and gully and it looked like every ball they were going to make something happen," said an admiring Beau Webster as he got a close-up view of the trio who've never been on a losing final in an ICC event when they've all been on the same side. Their combined 4-34 off a combined 21 overs felt like a rinse-and-repeat show to infect every English fan's nightmares. Mean, tight and destructive, the three now have 959 Test wickets between them - and counting quickly. Could they actually be better than ever? Starc was just as menacing as usual while being even less expensive; Hazlewood, coming off a full IPL season, looked fresh and immensely sharp. Cummins was just Cummins, leading from the front, probing relentlessly. "They've done it for a long time, haven't they?" smiled Smith. "Today was no different. They all bowled really nicely." After Australia had struggled to 212, they knew they had to hit back sharpish. "When you know you've only got a couple of hours to bowl in the night, you can probably give a little bit more knowing you can have a break afterwards," said Smith, praising Starc's 2-10 contribution in particular. "I looked this up today and kind of forget every now and again, Starcy, he's played 97 Tests with this one, which is a hell of an effort for a fast bowler. He's just relentless with his body, a tough character. He bowls through a lot of pain and things like that. "The three have been great, and hopefully they can come again in the morning and make a few early inroads." Webster, the 'Slug from Snug', will take his place back in the catching cordon and just enjoy. "They're a luxury we've had for a lot of years and it's not going to last for ever, but we are still in a good place," mused the Tasmanian. "And the less overs I have to bowl the better!" At the party they always get to host but never get the chance to play in, English cricket has again been left to gaze on enviously on that old Australian cut-throat firm of Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Smith, who have been lording it at Lord's for years. First up, in this third World Test final to be staged in England, it had been that old nuisance Steve Smith, in all his familiar idiosyncratic glory even while suffering with a dose of the flu, marking himself the all-time overseas top scorer in all Lord's Tests with a knock of 66 that took his total to 591 in 10 innings. Er, Bradman only got 551 in eight. And even if that other 'old firm' of Smith and Marnus Labuschagne looked as if it could be on its last legs after perhaps one unconvincing struggle too many from the junior partner, the self-styled 'home of cricket' was then left to witness the familiar excellence of Australia's three-pronged mean, green, pace machine doing its stuff. Even the egg 'n bacon-tied MCC brigade in the Long Room, on their very best behaviour this time, couldn't help but applaud the 'big three'. After all, who knows how long Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc can keep up the sort of heroics after eight years working in perfect harmony at the Test coalface? "It's unbelievable. Me and (Cameron) Greeny were watching from the slips and gully and it looked like every ball they were going to make something happen," said an admiring Beau Webster as he got a close-up view of the trio who've never been on a losing final in an ICC event when they've all been on the same side. Their combined 4-34 off a combined 21 overs felt like a rinse-and-repeat show to infect every English fan's nightmares. Mean, tight and destructive, the three now have 959 Test wickets between them - and counting quickly. Could they actually be better than ever? Starc was just as menacing as usual while being even less expensive; Hazlewood, coming off a full IPL season, looked fresh and immensely sharp. Cummins was just Cummins, leading from the front, probing relentlessly. "They've done it for a long time, haven't they?" smiled Smith. "Today was no different. They all bowled really nicely." After Australia had struggled to 212, they knew they had to hit back sharpish. "When you know you've only got a couple of hours to bowl in the night, you can probably give a little bit more knowing you can have a break afterwards," said Smith, praising Starc's 2-10 contribution in particular. "I looked this up today and kind of forget every now and again, Starcy, he's played 97 Tests with this one, which is a hell of an effort for a fast bowler. He's just relentless with his body, a tough character. He bowls through a lot of pain and things like that. "The three have been great, and hopefully they can come again in the morning and make a few early inroads." Webster, the 'Slug from Snug', will take his place back in the catching cordon and just enjoy. "They're a luxury we've had for a lot of years and it's not going to last for ever, but we are still in a good place," mused the Tasmanian. "And the less overs I have to bowl the better!"
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Keys leads US charge into quarters at Queen's Club
Madison Keys has powered into the quarter-finals of the Queen's Club Championships with a 6-3 6-2 win over Anastasia Zakharova, while fellow American luminaries Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova also progressed. Australian Open champion Keys had an early wobble in the opening set in her first grasscourt match of the season when she found herself 3-1 down as she tried to find her footing on Wednesday. But she did not panic and quickly recovered to win the next five games, sealing the set with an ace straight down the middle. Zakharova had her moments in the second set but could not contend with the power of Keys, who converted five break points and clinched victory with an unreturned serve to wrap up the contest in 68 minutes. "Always tough to play your first match on the grass, especially against someone who's already played a few matches. But overall, pretty happy and happy that I get another match here," Keys said. "The first couple of games felt like I was just trying to find my footing. Once I did, I feel like I played really well." Third seed Navarro overcame a nightmare opening set and also saved match point to beat Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3. After Navarro saved a match point in the second set, Haddad Maia led 4-2 in the tiebreak but the Brazilian lost her momentum when play was paused so an audience member could receive medical treatment. Haddad Maia then began making errors and Navarro pounced, forcing a decider where the Brazilian lost serve with a double fault before Navarro clinched victory in a match that lasted nearly three hours. "It wasn't easy. I think I've spent the most time on a match court with Bea than anyone else. We play each other all the time and we always go to three sets," Navarro said. "I've only been playing on grass for about four days, it's a quick turnaround." Navarro set up a quarter-final clash with Anisimova, who needed only 64 minutes to beat Sonay Kartal 6-1 6-3, the second Briton she had beaten at the tournament after Jodie Burrage. "I'm so sorry, guys," she told the home fans. "There's been some tough matches here but I am enjoying it and glad to be through to the next round. "There are so many strong girls right now in America and I am so happy to see us doing well. I am sure the match with Emma will be a battle. She is a tough player and I am looking forward to it." Any home hopes of British success in the doubles also went up in smoke when Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter lost 6-2 7-5 to top seeds Erin Routliffe and Lyudmyla Kichenok. Madison Keys has powered into the quarter-finals of the Queen's Club Championships with a 6-3 6-2 win over Anastasia Zakharova, while fellow American luminaries Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova also progressed. Australian Open champion Keys had an early wobble in the opening set in her first grasscourt match of the season when she found herself 3-1 down as she tried to find her footing on Wednesday. But she did not panic and quickly recovered to win the next five games, sealing the set with an ace straight down the middle. Zakharova had her moments in the second set but could not contend with the power of Keys, who converted five break points and clinched victory with an unreturned serve to wrap up the contest in 68 minutes. "Always tough to play your first match on the grass, especially against someone who's already played a few matches. But overall, pretty happy and happy that I get another match here," Keys said. "The first couple of games felt like I was just trying to find my footing. Once I did, I feel like I played really well." Third seed Navarro overcame a nightmare opening set and also saved match point to beat Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3. After Navarro saved a match point in the second set, Haddad Maia led 4-2 in the tiebreak but the Brazilian lost her momentum when play was paused so an audience member could receive medical treatment. Haddad Maia then began making errors and Navarro pounced, forcing a decider where the Brazilian lost serve with a double fault before Navarro clinched victory in a match that lasted nearly three hours. "It wasn't easy. I think I've spent the most time on a match court with Bea than anyone else. We play each other all the time and we always go to three sets," Navarro said. "I've only been playing on grass for about four days, it's a quick turnaround." Navarro set up a quarter-final clash with Anisimova, who needed only 64 minutes to beat Sonay Kartal 6-1 6-3, the second Briton she had beaten at the tournament after Jodie Burrage. "I'm so sorry, guys," she told the home fans. "There's been some tough matches here but I am enjoying it and glad to be through to the next round. "There are so many strong girls right now in America and I am so happy to see us doing well. I am sure the match with Emma will be a battle. She is a tough player and I am looking forward to it." Any home hopes of British success in the doubles also went up in smoke when Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter lost 6-2 7-5 to top seeds Erin Routliffe and Lyudmyla Kichenok. Madison Keys has powered into the quarter-finals of the Queen's Club Championships with a 6-3 6-2 win over Anastasia Zakharova, while fellow American luminaries Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova also progressed. Australian Open champion Keys had an early wobble in the opening set in her first grasscourt match of the season when she found herself 3-1 down as she tried to find her footing on Wednesday. But she did not panic and quickly recovered to win the next five games, sealing the set with an ace straight down the middle. Zakharova had her moments in the second set but could not contend with the power of Keys, who converted five break points and clinched victory with an unreturned serve to wrap up the contest in 68 minutes. "Always tough to play your first match on the grass, especially against someone who's already played a few matches. But overall, pretty happy and happy that I get another match here," Keys said. "The first couple of games felt like I was just trying to find my footing. Once I did, I feel like I played really well." Third seed Navarro overcame a nightmare opening set and also saved match point to beat Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3. After Navarro saved a match point in the second set, Haddad Maia led 4-2 in the tiebreak but the Brazilian lost her momentum when play was paused so an audience member could receive medical treatment. Haddad Maia then began making errors and Navarro pounced, forcing a decider where the Brazilian lost serve with a double fault before Navarro clinched victory in a match that lasted nearly three hours. "It wasn't easy. I think I've spent the most time on a match court with Bea than anyone else. We play each other all the time and we always go to three sets," Navarro said. "I've only been playing on grass for about four days, it's a quick turnaround." Navarro set up a quarter-final clash with Anisimova, who needed only 64 minutes to beat Sonay Kartal 6-1 6-3, the second Briton she had beaten at the tournament after Jodie Burrage. "I'm so sorry, guys," she told the home fans. "There's been some tough matches here but I am enjoying it and glad to be through to the next round. "There are so many strong girls right now in America and I am so happy to see us doing well. I am sure the match with Emma will be a battle. She is a tough player and I am looking forward to it." Any home hopes of British success in the doubles also went up in smoke when Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter lost 6-2 7-5 to top seeds Erin Routliffe and Lyudmyla Kichenok. Madison Keys has powered into the quarter-finals of the Queen's Club Championships with a 6-3 6-2 win over Anastasia Zakharova, while fellow American luminaries Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova also progressed. Australian Open champion Keys had an early wobble in the opening set in her first grasscourt match of the season when she found herself 3-1 down as she tried to find her footing on Wednesday. But she did not panic and quickly recovered to win the next five games, sealing the set with an ace straight down the middle. Zakharova had her moments in the second set but could not contend with the power of Keys, who converted five break points and clinched victory with an unreturned serve to wrap up the contest in 68 minutes. "Always tough to play your first match on the grass, especially against someone who's already played a few matches. But overall, pretty happy and happy that I get another match here," Keys said. "The first couple of games felt like I was just trying to find my footing. Once I did, I feel like I played really well." Third seed Navarro overcame a nightmare opening set and also saved match point to beat Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3. After Navarro saved a match point in the second set, Haddad Maia led 4-2 in the tiebreak but the Brazilian lost her momentum when play was paused so an audience member could receive medical treatment. Haddad Maia then began making errors and Navarro pounced, forcing a decider where the Brazilian lost serve with a double fault before Navarro clinched victory in a match that lasted nearly three hours. "It wasn't easy. I think I've spent the most time on a match court with Bea than anyone else. We play each other all the time and we always go to three sets," Navarro said. "I've only been playing on grass for about four days, it's a quick turnaround." Navarro set up a quarter-final clash with Anisimova, who needed only 64 minutes to beat Sonay Kartal 6-1 6-3, the second Briton she had beaten at the tournament after Jodie Burrage. "I'm so sorry, guys," she told the home fans. "There's been some tough matches here but I am enjoying it and glad to be through to the next round. "There are so many strong girls right now in America and I am so happy to see us doing well. I am sure the match with Emma will be a battle. She is a tough player and I am looking forward to it." Any home hopes of British success in the doubles also went up in smoke when Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter lost 6-2 7-5 to top seeds Erin Routliffe and Lyudmyla Kichenok.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
McEvoy first, Chalmers second in 50m dash
Cameron McEvoy wins the men's 50m freestyle and Kyle Chalmers touches second at the 2025 Australian trials.
