Prizmic downs Humbert to continue run in Rome, Zverev & Swiatek cruise into last 16

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/prizmic-dino/YcluY2Zi/"]Prizmic[/a] had to qualify for the main draw, but the Croatian player looks like he could be a contender after another [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/humbert-u-O4ywE5Ah/prizmic-d-YcluY2Zi/?mid=lvN8LdDG"]brilliant display of power and precision on clay[/a].[/p][p]The 20-year-old raced into a 5-0 lead in the first set, which he closed out in just 28 minutes against a shellshocked [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/humbert-ugo/O4ywE5Ah/"]Humbert[/a], who was seeded 31st.[/p][p]Such was Prizmic's dominance in the first set that he could even afford to try a trick shot between his legs and give up a point in game six.[/p][p]Humbert battled back in the second set, but after he gave up his serve for the third time in game 11, Prizmic closed out on his second match point.[/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="6c6c9756-fc9e-47ba-896a-a02a627f7bb9" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="8a2d24b0-ca4d-44b2-bcc8-c3b713912fb0" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]After his superb performance on the Pietrangeli court, Prizmic will face 13th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/khachanov-karen/4bNPtZT5/"]Karen Khachanov[/a] in the next round.[/p][p][b]"I just want to play my game and to be myself on the court, and we will see," [/b]Prizmic later told reporters.[/p][p][b]"Maybe for me the goal is to be top 30 at the end of the year, but I just want to stay healthy and to play as much as I can."[/b][/p][p]As it stands, Prizmic will already be up 11 places to 68th come Monday week, just before the start of the French Open, after his best-ever performance in a Master 1000 tournament.[/p][h2]Zverev eases through[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a] kept up his bid for a third title at the Foro Italico with a straight-sets win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/blockx-alexander/xll0TzGG/"]Alexander Blockx[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/blockx-a-xll0TzGG/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=McxyP1qS"]6-1, 6-4[/a] on centre court, where the threat of rain looms large.[/p][p]Second seed Zverev, who was heavily beaten by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] in the Madrid final last weekend, will face Italy's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/darderi-luciano/jeXTxMIp/"]Luciano Darderi[/a], who beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paul-tommy/pd3ye1BS/"]Tommy Paul[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/darderi-l-jeXTxMIp/paul-t-pd3ye1BS/?mid=G6jyyiVg"]3-6, 6-3, 6-2[/a], in the fourth round.[/p][p]Zverev barely had to get out of second gear against Blockx, who was beaten in the Madrid semis by Zverev.[/p][p]The German, who won the men's singles title in the Italian capital in 2017 and 2024, is on the same side of the draw as Prizmic.[/p][p][b]"There are a lot of young guys who are playing great tennis. He's definitely one of them,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"But I'm going to go match by match, I think that's the most important thing, not to look too far ahead and focus on the things that you can control."[/b][/p][embed guid="5d6eae9e-dad7-482f-b8ec-58a309f2e42c" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2053463631237394736" social-type="twitter" /][p]Home hope [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/musetti-lorenzo/xtH2ODVI/"]Lorenzo Musetti[/a] will face clay court specialist [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruud-casper/zN9UpRqp/"]Casper Ruud[/a] in the last 16 after winning a tough match with Argentina's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cerundolo-francisco/lWQ3G6gB/"]Francisco Cerundolo[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/cerundolo-f-lWQ3G6gB/musetti-l-xtH2ODVI/?mid=UkhTxD0s"]7-6(7), 6-4[/a].[/p][p]Musetti was in tears at the end of a clash which featured 81 unforced errors, and told Sky Sport that he wasn't right physically without specifying what was wrong.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/atp-singles/rome/"]Follow the men's side of the Italian Open here.[/a][/b][/p][h2]Osaka sets up Swiatek clash[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osaka-naomi/MDM4BKiA/"]Naomi Osaka[/a] will face three-time Rome champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a] in the last 16 of the women's tournament after easily seeing off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shnaider-diana/028BdVOj/"]Diana Schnaider[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/osaka-n-MDM4BKiA/shnaider-d-028BdVOj/?mid=EHUbOFzR"]6-1, 6-2[/a].[/p][p]The four-time Grand Slam winner beat her Russian opponent in just 54 minutes to equal her best result of a difficult season in which she was knocked out of Indian Wells and Madrid at the same stage by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a].[/p][p]But with Sabalenka suffering a shock early elimination on Saturday, 15th seed Osaka could yet be a contender.[/p][p]She will play Swiatek on Tuesday after the Pole swept aside Italian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cocciaretto-elisabetta/pA0aW3EL/"]Elisabetta Cocciaretto[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/cocciaretto-e-pA0aW3EL/swiatek-i-jNyZsXZe/?mid=4EVnj8I7"]6-1, 6-0[/a] in just over an hour.[/p][p][b]"For me, those matches are the most fun. I'm excited at the thought," [/b]said Osaka of a clash with Swiatek.[/p][embed guid="1ecb1826-8d39-4cc0-a057-c191b09712d0" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2053548939392033097" social-type="twitter" /][p]Pole Swiatek suffered her earliest exit in five appearances in Madrid last month when she retired in the third round due to a viral illness.[/p][p]She was knocked out at the same stage in Rome last year as defending champion and took nearly three hours to win her opening match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcnally-caty/YDHquro6/"]Caty McNally[/a].[/p][p]Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, has not won a clay tournament since capturing the last of her four French Open titles in 2024.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/wta-singles/rome/"]Follow the women's side of the Italian Open here.[/a][/b][/p]