Sunday features third round action in both men’s and women’s singles.
A few weeks ago in Barcelona, we were scheduled to see a quarterfinal clash between Arthur Fils and Stefanos Tsitsipas. But Tsitsipas retired after just two games due to a back injury. On Sunday, we should finally see the full matchup, in a head-to-head where Stefanos is yet to take a set off Arthur in their two completed matches.
Other ATP action on Sunday features Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev. WTA third round matches include a pair of matches between Major champions, as Aryna Sabalenka takes on Sofia Kenin, and Elena Rybakina does battle with Bianca Andreescu.
Throughout the tournament, this preview will analyze the day’s two most prominent matches, while highlighting the other notable matches on the schedule. Sunday’s play begins at 11:00am local time.
Arthur Fils (13) vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas (18) – 11:00am on Grand Stand Arena
Fils’ two wins over Tsitsipas both came on indoor hard courts, during the fall of 2023 and 2024. Three of their four completed sets have been decided by a tiebreak, and they’re yet to play more than two games on clay. However, six months after their most recent meeting, Arthur has been trending upward, while Stefanos has been trending downward.
The Frenchman is 18-9 this season, and 7-3 on clay. He easily overcame Tallon Griekspoor in his opening round, though that brought his career record in Rome to just 2-2 lifetime. Fils reached three consecutive Masters 1000 quarterfinals between March and April, before losing his first match in Madrid to Francisco Comesana. Arthur currently sits at a career-high ranking of No.14.
The Greek holds an almost identical record of 17-9 this season, and 6-3 on clay. But he’s currently sitting at the lowest ranking he’s held in about seven years, after failing to defend his title in Monte Carlo. Tsitsipas is 17-7 lifetime in Rome, and was the runner-up here three years ago. Like Fils, he also won his opening round in straights, over Alexandre Muller.
I expect another tight contest between these two on Sunday. However, this stat per Tennis Abstract remains prominent in my mind: Tsitsipas hasn’t beaten a top 20 player in nearly 10 months. And considering these players’ history, Fils must be favored to advance.
Elena Rybakina (11) vs. Bianca Andreescu – Third on Grand Stand Arena
Rybakina has rather quietly accumulated a record this year of 19-8. And I say quietly as it’s now been over a year since she’s reached a tournament final, which is why her ranking has dipped outside the top 10 for the first time in over two years. But she’s achieved success in this city before, as the last time she played this event, back in 2023, she won it. Elena is now 11-2 in Rome.
Andreescu is mounting her latest comeback after missing the first three months of the season due to injury and illness. Yet as she often does, she’s quickly found some traction upon her return. In just her third tour-level tournament of the year, she’s already won two matches, including a three-set upset in the last round over Donna Vekic. This is only her third appearance in Rome, where Bianca was a quarterfinalist back in 2022.
Rybakina is 3-0 against Andreescu, with all three victories coming in straight sets. They met as recently as two weeks ago in Madrid, where Elena prevailed 6-3, 6-2. Bianca should be able to provide a more competitive match on Sunday, after building some confidence this week. But Elena is still a considerable favorite, especially on clay, which is not historically Bianca’s strongest surface.
Other Notable Matches on Sunday:
Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs. Sofia Kenin (31) – Sabalenka is now 32-5 on the year, and is currently on a seven-match winning streak, after a clinical 6-2, 6-2 victory on Friday over Anastasia Potapova. Kenin is 19-10 on the year, in the best start she’s had since her excellent 2020 season. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 3-1, though Kenin’s only victory came two years ago in their only clay court meeting, which was at this same event.
Alexei Popyrin (24) vs. Daniil Medvedev (10) – Both men won their opening rounds in straight sets. Medvedev is 3-1 against Popyrin, but their most recent meeting went to the Australian, six months ago at this Paris Masters in a third-set tiebreak.
Coco Gauff (4) vs. Magda Linette (32) – Gauff came back from a set down on Friday against qualifier Victoria Mboko. On the same day, Linette also came from a set down, against Maria Sakkari. Gauff has taken two of their three encounters, but earlier this season in Miami, Linette defeated her 6-4, 6-4.
Villius Gaubas (Q) vs. Alexander Zverev (2) – Zverev is the defending champion, and he also won this tournament back in 2017. Gaubas is a 20-year-old qualifier from Lithuania who upset Denis Shapovalov in the last round.
Linda Noskova (30) vs. Mirra Andreeva (7) – Andreeva is 25-6 this season, and is just a few match wins away from making her top five debut. She is 2-1 against Noskova, which includes a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the start of this season in Brisbane.
Laslo Djere vs. Carlos Alcaraz (2) – After missing Madrid due to an adductor injury, Alcaraz returned to the court on Friday with a straight-set victory over Dusan Lajovic. And he’s 2-0 against Djere, with two wins on this surface.
Sunday’s full Order of Play is here.
