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The world number two won 6-0 6-2 in just 59 minutes to set up a quarter-final clash with Elina Svitolina in Rome.

After saving a break point in the opening game, Rybakina produced a ruthless first set by converting all three of her break point opportunities and winning 25 of a possible 35 points.

Another early break in the second saw Rybakina take a 3-1 lead, though Pliskova responded with a break of her own soon after.

However, it only delayed the inevitable as back-to-back breaks saw Rybakina clinch victory, which she sealed with her fourth match point.

Elsewhere in the Italian capital, Iga Swiatek cruised past Naomi Osaka into the last eight of the competition.

Swiatek won 6-2 6-1 in just 82 minutes as Osaka struggled in another match against a high-ranked opponent.

Jessica Pegula will face Swiatek in the quarter-finals after the American defeated Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (8-6) 6-2.

Rybakina has reached her 21st career quarter-final at WTA-1000 events, and her fourth of 2026 after Doha, Indian Wells and Miami –the most of any player so far this season.

Overall, Rybakina only trails Li Na for WTA-1000 quarter-finals reached among players representing an Asian country, since the format’s introduction in 2009.

Swiatek, meanwhile, is the youngest player to reach five quarter-finals at the Italian Open since Serena Williams in 2004.