World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka suffered an early shock on the Italian Open because the in-form Belarusian crashed to a 7-6(4) 6-2 defeat by American Sofia Kenin in a high-octane second-round match.
Sabalenka wobbled on serve early in her first match since claiming the Madrid title final week and squandered three probabilities to interrupt Kenin earlier than discovering her groove to degree a pulsating opening set at 4-4.
The gamers traded breaks once more to arrange a tiebreak the place Kenin displayed glimpses of the shape that marked her 2020 Australian Open title run to seize the early benefit following an unforced error by Sabalenka.
Kenin, who was as soon as ranked quantity 4 however has slipped to 134 on the earth as a consequence of sickness and accidents, heaped strain on the reigning Melbourne Park champion within the second set for a 4-2 lead and held agency for a well-known victory.
Earlier, 2013 runner-up Victoria Azarenka snapped the six-match profitable streak of Saint Malo champion Sloane Stephens with a 6-4 6-3 victory over the American.
However, it was the top of the highway for an additional former world No.1 in Karolina Pliskova, who fell to a 7-6(5) 6-2 defeat by qualifier Anna Bondar whereas third seed Jessica Pegula misplaced 6-2 3-6 6-3 to fellow American Taylor Townsend.
Last 12 months’s French Open runner-up Coco Gauff continued her preparations for the 12 months’s second grand slam by dropping just one sport in her victory over Yulia Putintseva.
“I usually have long matches with her,” Gauff stated. “I was fully prepared for that. But I told myself to play on my terms.
“She’s a difficult participant, has some huge wins. Made the quarters of the French a pair instances. I do know clay is her floor. It’s additionally type of mine, too, so it was an excellent match immediately.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
