World number one Aryna Sabalenka, and Emma Raducanu qualified for the second round of the Italian Open on Sunday with dominant performances.
Sabalenka earned a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Sofia Kenin to set up a clash with Marta Kostyuk, who beat Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-2.
She was broken three consecutive times to lose the opening set as she won just 41% of points on her first serve.
She recorded 23 breakpoints which was the most she has generated in a WTA Tour match, and marks only the second time she has created more than 20.
Sabalenka admitted that the match was tougher than she expected
She said: “I was going really tough on myself. It was a tough match — she played incredible tennis in the first set. It was a great fight and I was super happy to get this match.”
Sabalenka has extended her winning streak to eight matches — a run featuring two victories in Rome and six from her Madrid Open title run.
She has won 33 matches in 2025, which is the most on the WTA Tour.
The Belarusian star is the favourite to win the tournament after Iga Swiatek crashed out on Saturday.
She has reached the final of her last four tournaments, winning in both Miami and Madrid, and she will be hoping to continue her title-winning run in Italy.
In a related development, Emma Raducanu recorded a 5-7 6-0 6-1 win over Veronika Kudermetova to set up a fourth round clash with Coco Gauff at the Italian Open.
She served the first set before losing three games in a row and then fighting back to seal a hard-fought victory to progress.
Raducanu was delighted with her comeback victory.
She said: “The best thing for me was recovering from the first set after serving for it.
“I’m so happy that I didn’t let the rest of the match get away with me – I think that’s a big progress maybe compared to the matches I’ve played in the past.
“I’m happy with the variety I have on my shots – I’m able to return from two different positions, which is new.
Raducanu won the 2021 US Open, becoming the first British woman to win a singles major since Virginia Wade at the 1977 Wimbledon Championships.
