Alexander Zverev registered his second win over Alexander Blockx in the space of nine days as the second seed cruised into the last 16 of the Italian Open. 

Zverev, who also downed Blockx in the semi-finals at the Madrid Open, repeated the trick on Sunday with a comfortable 6-1 6-4 triumph in one hour and 13 minutes. 

The two-time Italian Open champion set the tone for his victory in the second game of the opening set as he got the better of Blockx's serve to race into an early 3-0 lead. 

And though Blockx got himself on the board, it was too little, too late for the Belgian, as Zverev clinched the set at the second time of asking to edge closer to the next round.

The German's dominance continued in the second set, with a break in the first game setting him on his way, though he did squander two more break points soon after. 

For all of Blockx's efforts, Zverev showcased his experience and saw out the match with ease, sealing his progression with a blistering, unreturnable serve.

"I was much better than I was two days ago," said Zverev, who beat Daniel Altmaier in his Rome opener.

"I think it was difficult to play pretty tennis from the baseline today because the conditions were not easy, it was very windy. But overall, I am very happy."

Into the Round of 16 @AlexZverev takes out Blockx in straight sets to advance!@InteBNLdItalia | #IBI26 pic.twitter.com/ayPPzlpN7R

— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 10, 2026

Zverev will be joined in the next round by Casper Ruud, who also won in straight sets against 11th seed Jiri Lehecka.

Ruud emerged a 6-3 6-4 victor in one hour and 19 minutes, teeing up a clash with either Lorenzo Musetti or Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the quarter-finals. 

Data Debrief: Clay century up for Zverev

Zverev ensured his 100th ATP Masters 1000 match on clay ended with a victory, and in doing so, he became the fifth player in the format's history to reach 25+ rounds of 16 at such events on the surface, after Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and David Ferrer.

It also continued his fine form at the Italian Open. Since 1990, only Nadal, Djokovic and Federer have more wins at the tournament than Zverev's 29, while he has only managed more victories in Madrid (30) at a single ATP Masters 1000 event. 

He also equalled Carlos Alcaraz (108) for the second most ATP-level match wins on clay since the start of the 2020 season, trailing only Ruud, who improved his overall total to 137 by beating Lehecka.