Crunch Cerundolo test awaits Sinner

Jannik Sinner is gearing up for the first true test of his pre-Roland Garros form after cruising into the last 16 of the Italian Open on Monday, as Aryna Sabalenka's bid for a first Rome title continued with a straight-sets win over Marta Kostyuk.

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World No.1 Sinner continued his Foro Italico comeback from a three-month doping ban by dealing with lucky loser Jesper de Jong 6-4, 6-2 and setting up a last-16 clash with Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo.

Sinner was knocked out in the last 16 by Cerundolo the last time he played here, in 2023, and he is under no illusions that the 17th seed will be a big step up after low-ranked opponents in his first two matches.

"Tomorrow will be a big day for me, because I'll need to raise my game against him," Sinner told reporters.

"He's played some really good tennis recently, he got to the semi-finals in Madrid and he's playing some real tennis. He'll be confident."

The over 10,000 fans crammed into the centre court stands hoped Sinner can end a 49-year wait for an Italian winner of the men's tournament in the capital.

But Monday's win was in reality another warm-up for the 23-year-old's stated objective of arriving at the French Open in top form.