Top-seeded Sinner and Swiatek advance at Madrid Open. Tsitsipas upset by qualifier Monteiro

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, returns the ball to Lorenzo Sonego, of Italy, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

MADRID (AP) — Top-seeded Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek both brushed aside opponents to advance at the Madrid Open on Saturday.

Sinner downed fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-0, 6-3 in the second round to improve to 5-0 against his countryman. The Australian Open champion had a first-round bye.

Sinner will next face either Jordan Thompson or Pavel Kotov. He is chasing his fourth title of the season after winning at Melbourne Park and in Rotterdam and Miami — all hard-court events. Just one of his 13 career titles has come on clay, at the Croatia Open in 2022.

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, competes against Lorenzo Sonego, of Italy, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Swiatek likewise made quick work of Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-1 to reach the women’s round of 16.

The top-ranked Swiatek, who lost last year’s final to Aryna Sabalenka, improved her record this season to 26-4. She will next face either Victoria Azarenka or Sara Sorribes Tormo on Monday for a spot in the final eight.

Swiatek is preparing to make a run for a third consecutive title at the French Open next month. She is a three-time champion at Roland Garros (2020, ‘22, ’23).

Iga Swiatek, of Poland, gestures during a match against Sorana Cirstea, of Romania, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

The Madrid Open is the only European clay tournament at the 500 level or above the Polish player has yet to win.

Fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari ended Sloane Stephens’ seven-match winning run with a 6-1, 6-3 win over the American.

On the men’s side, Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro upset Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in the second round.

The seventh-ranked Tsitsipas fell to Monteiro, ranked 118th, after having run up a 10-1 record on clay going into the match. Tsitsipas won Monte Carlos early this month before reaching the final of Barcelona last week.

Iga Swiatek, of Poland, returns the ball to Sorana Cirstea, of Romania, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

“I had a very good opponent on the other side of the net,” Tsitsipas said. “He was coming up with great shots and punishing me every single time I played short.”

Sorana Cirstea, of Romania, returns the ball to Iga Swiatek, of Poland, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Rafael Nadal faces Alex de Minaur later.

___

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, serves a ball to Lorenzo Sonego, of Italy, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, returns the ball to Lorenzo Sonego, of Italy, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, during a match against Thiago Monteiro, of Brazil, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, waves to supporters after a match against Thiago Monteiro, of Brazil, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Thiago Monteiro, of Brazil, celebrates during a match against Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Thiago Monteiro, of Brazil, reacts during a match against Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Iga Swiatek, of Poland, serves a ball to Sorana Cirstea, of Romania, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Sorana Cirstea, of Romania, during a match against Iga Swiatek, of Poland, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)