ROME, Italy (AFP) — Daniil Medvedev’s Rome Open title defense came to an early end after the world No. 4 was knocked out in the Last-16 stage by Tommy Paul, while Iga Swiatek cruised into the women’s semifinals.

Second seed Medvedev has never successfully defended an ATP Tour crown and was well below his best, stunned in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 by American Paul who claimed his first win against the former US Open champion.

“Mentally, I had to be much better. I started to calm myself down and focus on the match only at the end of the match, and it was too late,” Medvedev told reporters.

“It’s disappointing, to be honest. I wanted to do better here.”

Paul will play Hubert Hurkacz, who knocked out Rafael Nadal earlier in the tournament, in his first Masters 1000 quarter-final on clay.

“I had a bit of training before the clay court season this year and it really helped. I’m really comfortable and I’m having fun out here,” said Paul on court.

Medvedev, 28, had a great chance at the Foro Italico after a raft of stars either withdrew or were eliminated early, but instead he became the latest big name to be dumped out of the last major tournament before this month’s French Open.

Rome is missing the world’s top four ranked men after Novak Djokovic’s exit on Sunday and Italian world number two Jannik Sinner and third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz both dropped out injured before the tournament.

‘Mentally, I had to be much better. I started to calm myself down and focus on the match only at the end of the match, and it was too late.’

Holger Rune, who lost last year’s final to Medvedev, Madrid champion Andrey Rublev — ranked sixth in the world — and beaten finalist Felix Auger-Aliassime have also been eliminated.

Hoping to pounce is world No. 5 and 2017 Rome winner Alexander Zverev after sweeping past unseeded Nuno Borges 6-2, 7-5 to set up a quarter-final clash with Taylor Fritz.

Reigning Monte Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas meanwhile demolished Australia’s Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-2 in an hour and will play Nicolas Jarry in the Last Eight.

World No. 1 Swiatek continued her bid for a third Rome title in imperious style, strolling into the semifinals past Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3.

“Today, I’m really proud of myself because I feel like I’m playing better and for sure this was the best day for me in Rome,” Swiatek said.

In the last four Swiatek will face her toughest test yet in third seed Coco Gauff, who beat Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 in the day’s final match on center court.

She maintained her red-hot form at the Foro Italico, where she has not yet dropped a set, ahead of her French Open title defense later this month.

The three-time Roland Garros champion arrived in Rome off the back of winning a third WTA 1000 title of the season in Madrid.

And she could yet become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to win in the Spanish and Italian capitals in the same season.