(Tennis news) Currently ranked 134, American tennis player Sofia Kenin shocked world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 in the Italian Open while Taylor Townsend, ranked 168 defeated third seed Jessica Pegula 6-2 3-6 6-3. However, tournament favourites Coco Gauff and Victoria Azarenka managed to progress into the next round.
Gauff continued her preparations for the upcoming Grand Slam at the French Open by defeating Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 6-0 6-1 in exactly an hour. Azarenka overcame American tennis player Sloane Stephens 6-4 6-3 and will be looking to win the trophy this time around.
As for 25 year old Aryna Sabalenka, she was knocked out by former world number 4 Sofia Kenin who registered her first win in Rome since 2019. Sabalenka defeated world number 1 Iga Swiatek to win the Madrid Open last week but wasn’t at the top of her game in what can be considered to be a very disappointing result. As for Kenin, the 24 year old secured a victory against a top 10 opponent for the first time since defeating Ashleigh Barty in the semi-finals.
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