Tommy Paul set up a potential Italian Open semifinal with Jannik Sinner after beating Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Thursday to move into the last four in Rome.
American Paul came through a humdrum quarterfinal encounter to reach the semis, where he awaits one of Sinner or Casper Ruud, for the second straight year.
Sinner faces by far the toughest test since his return from a three-month doping ban when he takes on sixth seed Ruud in the first of two evening matches on centre court.
The world number one is yet to drop a set on home clay but Ruud is on a hot streak and eyeing a second straight 1000 Masters triumph after breaking his duck in Madrid earlier this month.
Norwegian Ruud has won more matches on clay than any other player on the men’s tour in the last five years and Sinner is still finding his feet after his suspension, accepted from the World Anti-Doping Agency for testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year.
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If Sinner gets through to the semis it will be the first time two Italians have reached the last four of a Master 1000 tournament since the series’ creation 35 years ago, with Lorenzo Musetti facing Carlos Alcaraz on Friday.
Paolini delights home crowd by reaching final
Sinner’s compatriot Jasmine Paolini also reached the final on Thursday after ending Peyton Stearns’ impressive run in the Rome tournament 7-5, 6-1.
Home hope and sixth seed Paolini became the third Italian woman to reach the Foro Italico final, and the first since her doubles partner Sara Errani was thumped by Serena Williams in 2014.
“It’s a dream of mine to get to the final here. It was a difficult start, thank goodness you were all here to give me a boost,” Paolini said on court.
“I didn’t have a great feeling at the beginning of the match but I’m really happy about how I managed to turn it around.”
The 29-year-old will face one of Coco Gauff and China’s Zheng Qinwen, who beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday night, with that contest the last match of the day on centre court.
