Sinner Cruises Through, Zhang Gives Rybakina Big Scare At Madrid Open

MADRID, April 27 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Top seed Jannik Sinner cruised into the last 16 of the Madrid Open on Sunday with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Elmer Moller, Xinhua reported.

After struggling in his opening match, Sinner found his rhythm in a tournament missing both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.

Sixth seed Lorenzo Musetti also advanced in straight sets, beating Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5 in a match that was closer than the scoreline suggested, with a key game in each set proving decisive.

Arthur Fils reached the second week with a 7-6 (2), 6-3 victory over American Emilio Nava, while Cameron Norrie relied on his serve to guide the 19th seed past Thiago Agustin Tirante 7-5, 7-6 (5).

In the women's draw, China's Zheng Qinwen, seeded 32nd, pushed second seed Elena Rybakina hard before bowing out. Zheng took the first set 6-4 against the Kazakh, who was born in Russia, but Rybakina fought back to win a tense second set 6-4 and then took the decider 6-3 to reach the last 16.

Third seed Coco Gauff showed her resolve, overcoming illness to come from a set down and defeat Sorana Cirstea 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Gauff was visibly sick into a courtside bin with the second set finely poised, but recovered after medical attention and dominated the rest of the match.

Ukraine's 26th seed Marta Kostyuk produced a minor upset by beating fifth seed Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-4 to move into the last 16, while Karolina Pliskova continued her strong run in Madrid with a marathon 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (3) win over 16th seed Elise Mertens.

Linda Noskova received a walkover against Liudmila Samsonova, who was another player affected by illness. 

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA