Italy's Jannik Sinner set up a Davidvs-Goliath clash with countryman Andrea Pellegrino in the last 16 of the Italian Open, after demolishing Australia's Alexei Popyrin in straight sets, 6-2,6-0, on center court on Monday.

The world No 1 easily won his 25th straight match, taking just over an hour to see off Popyrin and give qualifier Pellegrino his moment on the big stage on Tuesday afternoon.

Pellegrino, 29, who beat 20th seed Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (8), 6-1, is ranked 155th in the world, and, before this week, had never played in the main draw of a Masters 1000 tournament.

"It's fun to play a derby in Italy, he's having an incredible tournament with a lot of victories against some really good opponents," Sinner told reporters.

"We've played each other a long time ago (in 2019 in an ITF tournament), but he was a different player, and I was a different player."

Sinner, meanwhile, is trying to extend his own record-breaking run of overall victories in the ATP's top-ranked events after having won his last five.

The 24-year-old joins Novak Djokovic as the only player to win a year's first 25 Masters 1000 matches, with the Serbian tennis icon's record run stretching to 31 matches in 2011.

Popyrin was suffocated by Sinner and made 23 unforced errors on his way to a comprehensive defeat.

The world No 60 only got 48 percent of first serves into play, and that allowed Sinner to break five times and close out a match that was barely a contest.

Should Sinner prevail at the Foro Italico, he will be the first Italian to win there since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago, and would complete his collection of Masters 1000 tournaments.

"Sinner is different to everyone else at the moment, he is a class above," said Pellegrino.

With great rival Carlos Alcaraz out injured and Novak Djokovic eliminated early, Sinner will be red-hot favorite as he builds toward completing the career Grand Slam at the French Open which starts next week.

Iga Swiatek will face Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals of the women's tournament after making short work of Naomi Osaka, beating the Japan star 6-2, 6-1 and looking more like the player who won four French Open titles.

Pole Swiatek hasn't won a clay-court tournament since claiming her most recent title at Roland Garros two years ago, with personal problems a factor in her poor performances on her favored surface.

AFP