ROME (AP) 鈥 Jannik Sinner is still regaining his focus on the tennis court after his three-month doping ban.
The top-ranked player overcame a brief lapse during the first set of a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong in his second match back on tour at the on Monday.
Sinner jumped out to a 4-1 lead but then lost his serve twice as the 93rd-ranked De Jong evened the first set at 4-4.
There were poor drop shots, an inopportune double-fault and other errors from Sinner. But the Italian regained control in front of his home crowd with his powerful groundstrokes and big serve and extended his winning streak to 23 matches, dating back to October.
鈥淚 felt like I started the match very well and then I had a big drop,鈥 Sinner said. 鈥淚 tried to understand what was going on. Then fortunately I broke him on 4-all again, which then gave me the confidence to continue.鈥
Sinner is into the last 16 of his first tournament since he won his third Grand Slam title at the in January.
In February, Sinner agreed to the three-month ban in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency that , since it conveniently allowed him not to miss any Grand Slams and come back at his home tournament.
The Italian Open is the last big warmup before the French Open starts on May 25.
Just like in his on Saturday, the fans at the Foro Italico were fully behind Sinner 鈥 Italy鈥檚 first No. 1.
Yelling 鈥淰ai Jannik鈥 (鈥淕o Jannik鈥) and singing his name, the crowd provided encouragement whenever Sinner needed it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to have him back,鈥 12th-ranked Tommy Paul said of Sinner after beating Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4. 鈥淗e鈥檚 such a big figure in the sport. He kind of sets the bar right now.鈥
The last Italian man to win the Rome title was Adriano Panatta in 1976.
Sinner led De Jong 22-16 in winners and had fewer unforced errors than his opponent, 16-25 鈥 after trailing in that category against Navone.
Sinner also served better, producing four aces.
Sinner will next face 17th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo, who beat Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner 6-2, 6-4.
Cerundolo is coming off a run to the Madrid Open semifinals and beat Nicolas Jarry 鈥 last year鈥檚 Rome finalist 鈥 in straight sets in the opening round.
鈥淟ast time I played here, I lost against him here on this court,鈥 Sinner said, referring to a three-set loss to Cerundolo in the round of 16 two years ago. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be tough. For sure I have to raise my level if I want to play even. 鈥 I鈥檓 trying to understand where my game is so it鈥檚 going to be a good challenge, good test for me.鈥
Sinner checks on fallen opponent
De Jong fell to the clay when he lost his footing trying to reach a passing shot from Sinner in the second set and the Italian came across the net to check on him. Sinner fetched a towel for De Jong and wiped off the Dutchman鈥檚 racket handle.
De Jong then needed medical attention for his right wrist before resuming play.
Flyover disrupts De Minaur
Also reaching the fourth round was seventh-seeded Alex De Minaur, who beat Bolivian qualifier Hugo Dellien in a match that was interrupted twice during the first set 鈥 first when a spectator got sick and then because of a flyover by the Italian Air Force鈥檚 acrobatic team.
De Minaur was visibly frustrated by the flyover.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 handle it very well, because I got broken straight away,鈥 De Minaur said. 鈥淚 did well to bounce back and get the break back, but I鈥檝e got to be a little bit better mentally to not let those things, outside factors affect me.鈥
Gauff routs Raducanu
In the women鈥檚 round of 16, Coco Gauff routed Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in a matchup of former U.S. Open champions.
Peyton Stearns eliminated Naomi Osaka 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) after 2 hours, 41 minutes. Stearns also edged Australian Open champion Madison Keys in a third-set tiebreaker in her previous match.
Also, home favorite Jasmine Paolini beat 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.
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