Swiatek beats Kerber as protesters invade courts

Iga Swiatek saw off Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3 at the Rome Open yesterday to set up a quarter-final clash with Madison Keys, who beat Sorana Cirstea despite her match being interrupted by climate activists.
World number one Swiatek is yet to drop a set and is favourite for a third Foro Italico crown before she begins her French Open title defence later this month.
The three-time Roland Garros champion arrived in the Italian capital off the back of a thrilling triumph in Madrid, her third WTA 1000 title of the season after also winning at Indian Wells and Doha.
But the 22-year-old didn’t have it all her own way against former world number one Kerber, a three-time former Grand Slam champion who at 331st was the lowest-ranked player ever to reach the last 16 in this tournament.
Swiatek battled to the first set in just under an hour and was frequently put to the test by 36-year-old German Kerber, who fell behind after saving five set points in game 10 and then succumbing two games later.
Kerber went two ahead in the second set but Swiatek fought back and after the Pole broke serve in game eight she held steady to close out the match.
“I’m a perfectionist but it’s impossible to play perfect tennis, so you always have to be humble and not take anything for granted,” said Swiatek.
“The pressure is there for sure but this year has been pretty good for me. I started the season well so I don’t feel like I have to chase anything.”
‘Not the greatest feeling’
Swiatek will face Keys whose 6-2, 6-1 win was suspended for half an hour by a court invasion from activists from Ultima Generazione (Last Generation).
Wearing orange vests, protestors threw a liquid and confetti onto the Pietrangeli court, where Keys was playing, and court 12 where a men’s doubles match was taking place.
There were also protestors in the stands with a tournament spokesman telling AFP that at least one person had tried to glue their feet to the floor in order to slow their removal.
“Obviously it’s not the greatest feeling when you’re on court, your first reaction is kind of your own safety,” said Keys. “It’s obviously something that’s becoming more of an occurrence and something that tournaments are going to have to figure out how to stop.”
Rublev, Osaka out
And Russian Rublev, fresh from claiming the Madrid title, suffered a shock third-round defeat by French qualifier Alexandre Muller, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Sixth seed and reigning Monte Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas is still in the fray after beating Briton Cameron Norrie in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (7/1). Tsitsipas sounded disappointed at the number of big names out of the tournament.
“The extension of the days in the Masters 1000s I think plays a massive role and contributes a lot to the fact that these players are getting injured,” Tsitsipas told reporters.
“You’ve got to be some type of superhero to be consistent back to back 10 days in each event getting to the very end of it.”
Naomi Osaka’s return to the Rome Open was ended at the last 16 by China’s Zheng Qinwen who breezed past her four-time Grand Slam winning opponent 6-2, 6-4 to set up a last-eight clash with third seed Coco Gauff.
Medvedev beats Medjedovic
Daniil Medvedev continued his Rome title defence with yesterday’s hard-fought 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 7-5 win over qualifier Hamad Medjedovic as the men’s tournament was left wide open by big-name exits.
Russian Medvedev will face Tommy Paul in the last 16 at the Foro Italico today after battling past Next Gen champion Medjedovic in a gruelling clash of big hitters.
The second seed has a great opportunity to win his first tournament of the year but will be drained by a match which pushed three hours in length and suggested that 20-year-old Medjedovic is a far superior player than his world ranking of 121.