On Monday, May 11, the women’s event in Rome featured quarterfinal battles, while the men’s tournament saw players vying for spots in the fourth round. Russian tennis stars, including Andrey Rublev, Anna Kalinskaya, and Mirra Andreeva, were among those aiming to advance. Here’s a detailed look at the action.
Mirra Andreeva dropped a set but fought back with a bagel to reach the fourth round in Rome, setting a new personal record.
At the Italian Masters, Rublev, seeded 12th, skipped the first round and started his campaign in the second. He faced Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, ranked 70th in the world. The Russian needed just 1 hour and 15 minutes to secure a 6-4, 6-4 victory, marking his third straight win over Kecmanovic—with matches spaced three years apart.
Speaking to reporters, Rublev explained how he cracked Kecmanovic’s game: “I’ve known him for a long time; we’ve played many times. Well, not many matches—just a couple. But we’ve trained together quite often. I know he has a very strong backhand, and he can play quickly from that side when given time. He also hits well from the forehand side. That’s how it went today. We started off playing at a good pace, and he held up well, adding power at times. But once I broke his serve, I felt more confident and started playing more freely. That ultimately helped me.”
During the press conference, Rublev reflected on his current form: “I like what I’m doing. I like how I’m playing, especially in practice. Of course, when it comes to a real match, it’s not easy to transfer that due to emotions and thoughts. But today, compared to my past performances here over the last four years—especially in the early rounds—I definitely played much better than before.”
Exclusive: “I like how I’m playing now, especially in practice.” Rublev at the Rome Masters
To reach the round of 16 in Rome, Rublev had to face 26-year-old Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The Spaniard was ranked 14th in the world in November 2025 but has since dropped to 23rd. He has never won an ATP title but has reached five tour-level finals, including the Monte-Carlo Masters in 2022.
Davidovich Fokina could rightly be called Rublev’s “client,” as the Russian had won six of their seven previous meetings, with his only loss coming in Barcelona 2025. Rublev had beaten him at Roland Garros 2020, Dubai 2023, Rome 2023, Madrid 2024, Beijing 2024, and Toronto 2025.
Ahead of their latest clash, Rublev shared his expectations: “Davidovich and I have built up quite a history of dramatic battles—saving match points, losing sets, trading breaks. Even our last match in Canada went 6-7, 7-6, then into a third set. So if I face him again, I hope to win without drama, more confidently.”
Rublev started strongly against Alejandro, breaking his serve to love in the third game for a 2-1 lead. However, the Spaniard immediately broke back to level at 2-2. In the sixth game, Davidovich Fokina reached break point again but failed to convert.