After aerobatic interruption, Stearns defeats Osaka in Rome thriller

Peyton Stearns shrugged off an interruption from the Frecce Tricolori to notch a second straight third-set tiebreak win over a Grand Slam champion, defeating Naomi Osaka to reach the Internazionali BNL d'Italia quarterfinals.

ROME -- Tennis matches have been interrupted by fireworks displays, environmental protestors and even, last week in Madrid, a nationwide power blackout.

You can add the world's largest aerobatic display to the list now. As Naomi Osaka served, down a set but at 2-2 in the second against Peyton Stearns, Campo Centrale was briefly deafened by a fleet of eight aircraft overhead, trailing green, white and red plumes behind them.

Rome: Draws | Scores | Order of play

The unscheduled visit by the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian air force's national demonstration team, didn't put Stearns off for long -- nor affect a contest that turned into a 2-hour, 41-minute barnburner. The unseeded American went on to win 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4), ousting a second straight Grand Slam champion to make her first career WTA 1000 quarterfinal.

Stearns, who had also upset Australian Open winner Madison Keys in a third-set tiebreak in the third round, ended Saint-Malo WTA 125 champion Osaka's eight-match winning streak. The No. 42-ranked American has been thriving on red clay since partnering with new coach Blaz Kavcic ahead of Madrid, where she reached the last 16.

More to come...

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