De Minaur through after three hours of fun with Felix, Muller stuns Rublev

Monday’s third-round action at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia began with an absorbing three-set battle between a pair of Top 20 stars. It was Alex de Minaur who came out of it still alive at the clay-court ATP Masters 1000.

The Australian outlasted Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4 to reach the last 16 in Rome for just the second time in six attempts. De Minaur rallied after the disappointment of losing the first-set tie-break to clinch a three-hour victory and improve to 25-9 for the season.

Walking into the Round of 16 like 👊

De Minaur knocks out Auger-Aliassime for a spot in the next round 🔥
@InteBNLdItalia | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/jJ44giMVzE

— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 13, 2024

De Minaur relinquished a 3-1 lead in the deciding set but held firm to notch victory after Auger-Aliassime gave up a crucial break in the ninth game with a double fault. It was De Minaur’s first victory against last week’s Madrid finalist in three Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings.

“I think Felix is a very good player on the clay,” said De Minaur. “He had a lot of confidence coming in, so I’m very happy how I stayed in the match at all stages. I was positive, no matter what came my way. I could have had a double break in the third to maybe secure the match. I didn’t get it, ended up getting broken, and I managed to compose myself so I’m very happy with that.”

De Minaur converted four of 12 break points he earned against Auger-Aliassime, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to just his second win against a Top 20 opponent on clay in 13 attempts. The 25-year-old, currently No. 11 in the PIF ATP Rankings, was delighted to tough out a hard-fought win at the Foro Italico.

“[My results on clay] aren’t great, so plenty of room for improvement,” said De Minaur. “Every time I’m out here I’m enjoying it, with a proper mindset, and I think I can play well. Especially when you have nice hot conditions. I’m taking it a match at a time. I’m happy with a quality win on the clay today, and we move on.”

Awaiting De Minaur in the fourth round will be sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek defeated Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-6(1) to improve to 12-2 on clay for the year.

Also on Monday, Alexandre Muller delivered an inspired performance to upset Madrid champion and fourth seed Andrey Rublev 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. The 27-year-old Frenchman snapped Rublev’s seven-match winning streak with a one-hour, 49-minute comeback win, his first against an opponent in the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings.

“It’s amazing,” said Muller. “I didn’t expect to win against Andrey today. I knew I had my chance, but it is special to win against a Top 10 player. May first win against a Top 10 player today, so I’m very happy.”

Now into the fourth round of a Masters 1000 event for the first time, Muller will take on 21st seed Nicolas Jarry next in Rome. The Frenchman has risen 20 spots to No. 89 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings as a result of his run so far in the Italian capital.

Jarry ended the run of Italian wild card Stefano Napolitano, triumphing 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the fourth round in Rome.

The Chilean had never been beyond the first round in two previous appearances in the Italian capital before this year but continued his winning streak with a hard-fought display. Jarry blasted 37 winners and was quick to move forward, winning 86 per cent (18/21) of points at net.

With his two-hour, 22-minute victory, Jarry joined countryman Alejandro Tabilo in the fourth round. It is the fourth time in ATP Masters 1000 history that there are multiple Chileans in the last 16.