Rome Italy) – Still looking for a career response, North American Sofia Kenin achieved an important result in her second match at the WTA 1000 in Rome. The now 58th in the world overcame a 2h19 battle against Tunisian Ons Jabeur, ranked 9th, with scores of 7/5, 2/6 and 6/4. It was her fifth victory over Jabeur in seven duels already held.
Kenin had only won one match since the circuit left the hard court, at the WTA in Lleida, having fallen in the debuts in Charleston and Madrid. Now, she has a good chance of going ahead, as she will face Katie Boulter or Rebecca Sramkova. The 25-year-old American was a Roland Garros finalist in the year of the pandemic, in 2020.
In the same quadrant and therefore possible opponent for the round of 16, the ninth favorite and semi-finalist of the tournament last year, Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, had a great performance against Russian Anastasia Potapova, scoring 6/4 and 6/2. Now, she faces Spanish specialist Sara Sorribes, winner of another Russian, 20th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, by 6/3, 1/6 and 7/5.
Sakkari and Collins guarantee each other
In a good moment again, Maria Sakkari passed with great authority the French Varvara Gracheva, by double 6/2, and awaits whoever passes the Ukrainian duel between the 30th seed Anhelina Kalinina and Lesia Tsurenko. The Greek has never lost in her debut in Rome in six appearances and was a semi-finalist in 2019, when she left the qualifiers.
North American Danielle Collins debuted without much effort, as she prevailed over Russian Anna Blinkova’s withdrawal, as she closed the first set 6/4. She will face the winner between the French and 22nd seed Caroline Garcia and the Italian Elisabetta Cecciaretto.
Belgian Elise Mertens confirmed her status as 27th favorite and beat Czech Karolina Siniakova, by 6/1 and 6/4. She will face the experienced Irina Begu, who only played seven games against Oceane Dodin, as Elena Rybakina’s French replacement retired when she was trailing by 2/5.
