Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman to reach the Italian Open semi-finals since 2014 when she beat Russian world number 11 Diana Shnaider 6-7(1) 6-4 6-2 on Tuesday.

Alcaraz, who won the Monte Carlo Masters in April, improved to 12-1 on clay this season. The four-time Grand Slam champion will next face No. 5 Jack Draper, who rallied past Corentin Moutet 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 on the red clay courts of the Foro Italico.

Carlos Alcaraz saved two break points early in the third set then dropped his serve later on to waste an early break before improving to 5-0 in his career against the 24th-ranked Karen Khachanov.

In the women's draw, Coco Gauff will be hoping to follow up her thumping win over Raducanu by beating Mirra Andreeva, while Aryna Sabalenka faces a similarly tricky test against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.

Carlos Alcaraz returned from a brief injury layoff with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic at the Italian Open.

Carlos Alcaraz joined reigning Italian Open champion Alexander Zverev in the last 16 in Rome after seeing off Laslo Djere 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 on centre court on Sunday.

In the quarter-finals Stearns will face one of Danielle Collins, who knocked out reigning champion Iga Swiatek, or Elina Svitolina after coming through

Carlos Alcaraz says he has recovered from the muscle injuries that forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open and is “100% ready” for the Italian Open where he hopes to renew his rivalry with Jannik Sinner.