Marketa Vondrousova continued her giant-killing run through the Internazionali BNL d'Italia draw with a 7-5, 6-3 defeat of No.9 seed Maria Sakkari to reach the fourth round.

Former Roland Garros finalist Vondrousova had taken out No.24 seed Bianca Andreescu in the previous round for the loss of just one game, and her claycourt prowess was once again on display in a first-time encounter with Sakkari.

Healthy again, Vondrousova back and ready to share some wisdom

The result was the ninth Top 10 win of Vondrousova's career, and third of 2023 following her defeats of Ons Jabeur at the Australian Open and Indian Wells.

Vondrousova, who was sidelined for six months last year as she underwent a second left wrist surgery, is currently ranked No.70. She will face No.7 seed Elena Rybakina in the last 16 on Monday, after Rybakina advanced past Anna Kalinskaya via injury retirement.

Keys to the match: The Rome conditions have long suited Vondrousova, who made the 2019 quarterfinals and 2020 semifinals and who now owns a 10-3 record at the tournament. Her renowned drop shot was a key weapon from the start of the match, with one paving a way to a break of the Sakkari serve in the opening game.

Vondrousova also outfoxed the Greek player with fine passing shots and pinpoint lobs, while also delivering a rock-solid serving performance. She landed 76% of her first serves, and won 75% of the points behind it.

The 23-year-old's only blip came when trying to close out the first set. Sakkari came up with her best two forehand winners of the day to save a pair of set points on her own serve, then promptly broke Vondrousova back to level at 5-5. But Vondrousova gathered herself to recapture the Sakkari serve, and converted her fifth set point with -- naturally -- another successful drop shot.

In the second set, Vondrousova broke Sakkari for 2-1 with a forehand winner down the line, and again to seal victory with a clean return winner. In between, she saved both break points she faced to avoid any putative comeback.

Rybakina advances past injured Kalinskaya

Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina moved into the Round of 16 after an injured Anna Kalinskaya retired from their third-round match while trailing 4-3.

World No.6 Rybakina had lost to Kalinskaya in Madrid just two weeks ago, and 57th-ranked Kalinskaya has been having a solid clay-court season including a Charleston quarterfinal.

But in the opening game on Sunday, Kalinskaya injured her left leg during a split, and she took a medical time-out following that game. After treatment, Kalinskaya drew errors from Rybakina to take an early 3-1 lead, but Rybakina won the next three games before Kalinskaya retired.

Rybakina will now take on Vondrousova for the second time. In their previous meeting, Vondrousova upset Rybakina 6-4, 6-4 on the hard courts of Moscow in 2021.