May 11, 2025
Aryna Sabalenka recovered from a set down to defeat Sofia Kenin in over two hours, avoiding the third-round fate that had already taken out three Top 5 seeds in Rome.
Sabalenka put together a rousing comeback to defeat Sofia Kenin 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to advance to Monday’s Round of 16. The match ran 2 hours and 13 minutes. With titles in Miami and Madrid, Sabalenka has now won 21 of her past 23 matches.
“I was over-emotional and overreacting and completely off,” Sabalenka told reporters. “For her style, [the conditions] suit her well. It was tricky match.
“I had to stay strong and really fight for the win and I’m really proud of myself.”
Bianca Andreescu picked up a key victory at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Sunday, defeating No. 11 seed Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Round of 16.
Andreescu will face another seeded player in the next round, either No. 8 seed Zheng Qinwen of China or No. 26 seed Magdalena Frech of Poland.
Elsewhere, Marta Kostyuk’s third-round match against Leylah Fernandez at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia featured two of the most natural talents on the Hologic WTA Tour. Several of their more creative exchanges had the appreciative Pietrangeli crowd visibly delighted before Kostyuk emerged a 6-4, 6-2 winner.
Emma Raducanu followed Kostyuk into the Round of 16, defeating Veronika Kudermetova 5-7, 6-0, 6-1. The evening matches will see Doha finalist Clara Tauson take on No. 10 seed Emma Navarro and No. 8 seed Zheng Qinwen face Magdalena Frech.
Coco Gauff restored order for herself in the head-to-head with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Linette in the third round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Sunday.
She’ll face Emma Raducanu in a match of US Open winners up next, as the 2021 New York champion rallied from a set behind to defeat Veronika Kudermetova in her own third-round match.
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