Italian Open: Daniil Medvedev fights back to beat Bernabe Zapata Miralles in Rome, Andrey Rublev also through

Daniil Medvedev is through to the last 16 of the Italian Open after a hard-fought 3-6 6-1 6-3 win over Bernabe Zapata Miralles in Rome.

Medvedev will play either Alexander Zverev or J.J. Wolf in the fourth round after the world No. 3 his second victory at the ATP Masters 1000 event in four appearances.

“I’m definitely playing my best tennis on clay right now,” Medvedev said after the match.

“I’ve never played so good in Rome or even Madrid was great. I’m feeling great.

“I’m looking forward to the next matches and definitely the end was high quality. I was really enjoying myself in the end.”

Zapata Miralles took the opening set in 35 minutes, double breaking Medvedev early on. Medvedev pulled a break back, but he could not get back into the set.

Medvedev responded brightly at the start of the second as he reeled off three games in a row. As Zapata Miralles’ level dropped significantly with Medvedev able to better read the Spaniard’s serve, he efficiently wrapped up the set in 33 minutes.

Medvedev was unable to convert any of his three break points in the fifth game of the third set as Zapata Miralles clung on to go 3-2 up.

But in Zapata Miralles’ very next service game he produced an unforced error which handed Medvedev the all-important break.

Medvedev finished the match in style on the Zapata Miralles serve, converting his second match point

Andrey Rublev is through to the last 16 after a 7-6(8) 6-3 win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

This year’s Monte Carlo Masters champion extended his head-to-head record to 3-0 against the Spaniard with a hard-fought victory to progress to the last 16.

Davidovich Fokina squandered three set points in the first set tie-break before Rublev came back to win it 10-8.

He will play Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann next after he beat Marco Cecchinato 6-4 4-6 6-3.

Evening matches involving Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, and Frances Tiafoe were suspended due to inclement weather.

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