Polona Hercog defeated Kiki Bertens 6–4, 6–4 in the second round of the Rome Masters on clay, pulling off a notable upset against the pre-match favourite. Bertens, priced at 1.53, entered as the expected winner, but Hercog's odds of 2.69 proved prescient as she controlled both sets with consistent play. The Slovenian's victory demonstrates her capability on the red clay surface and marks a significant scalp in her tournament run. Hercog's advancement sets up a potentially challenging quarter-final encounter, whilst Bertens' exit from the Masters 1000 event represents a missed opportunity to build momentum on her preferred surface.