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WTA Rome: When the draw suddenly opens up

With the defeats of Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula, the starting position in the lower half of the tableau of the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Rome is completely open.

by tennisnet.com
last edit: May 12, 2023, 08:18 pm

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Aryna Sabalenka has already finished in Rome
© Getty Images
Aryna Sabalenka has already finished in Rome

If you wanted to bet a few pennies on the outcome of a tennis match, you would almost always have been on the winning side with Aryna Sabalenka this season. Especially in the early rounds. The Belarusian, who was still a bit unstable not so long ago, will show herself from her new, very best side in 2023, which Iga Swiatek also felt recently in Madrid. A reunion of the two world's best players in the Foro Italico would only have been logical, especially since Swiatek starts in Rome as the defending champion. And with a slim 6:0 and 6:0 against Ansatasia Potapova on Friday, we got off to a good start.

And then Sofia Kenin came around the corner. This was really not to be expected. The 2020 Australian Open winner has shown in the past that she can also play on clay (in 2020 Kenin reached the final in Roland Garros, which she lost to Swiatek), before meeting Sabalenka on Thursday evening in Rome but there was nothing to suggest that the injury-plagued American would be able to surprise. Almost as surprising was Taylor Townsend's success against Jessica Pegula. Caroline Garcia almost got it that evening. The Frenchwoman just pulled her head out of the noose against Ana Bogdan and, as number five, is now the highest-ranked player in the lower half of the tableau.

Big chance for Azarenka?

And thus also the favourite? Not so fast. Although Garcia won the WTA Finals in Fort Worth last year, 2023 is not going as desired: In the annual ranking, the so-called race, she is only in twelfth place. Four places ahead is Cori Gauff, who started well yesterday (6:0 and 6:1 against Yulia Putintseva), but who is threatening a meeting with either Anastasia Potapova or Veronika Kudermetova in the round of 16. Gauff has not had good experiences against either player recently. First of all, the young American has to win against Marie Bouzkova anyway.

Could Victoria Azarenka's hour have come in Rome? Sabalenka's absence has certainly improved the prospects. However, Azarenka plays Madison Keys in round three. Who, if she feels herself, can win against almost all opponents on the WTA tour. What makes women's tennis as unpredictable as it is charming.

Here the single tableau in Rome

rommap

by tennisnet.com

Friday
May 12, 2023, 08:35 pm
last edit: May 12, 2023, 08:18 pm