In tennis‘s battle of former Australian Open champions, World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka came out on the losing end in the second round of the Italian Open on Thursday.
American Sofia Kenin, currently ranked 134th in the world, had all of the answers in the straight set victory.
Sabalenka, coming off a huge victory over Iga Swiatek at the Mutua Madrid Open on Saturday, committed over 30 unforced errors and did not look like she did on Saturday or for the majority of 2023 since winning her maiden Australian Open title in January.
INCREDIBLE WIN 💥💥💥
Sofia Kenin defeats Aryna Sabalenka to reach the Rome Masters R3, getting her first Top 10 win since the 2020 Australian Open (SF vs #1 Barty)
7-6, 6-2 in 1h37 pic.twitter.com/Ol5K2vLnkG
— Mario Boccardi (@marioboc17) May 11, 2023
For Kenin, who has dealt with injuries and confidence since her maiden Grand Slam win in 2020, this is a huge win and a great momentum boost leading into Roland Garros later in the month, a tournament that she finished as runner-up to Iga Swiatek in 2020.
Sofia Kenin was lost at sea for quite a long time.
The major champion, seemingly out of nowhere, rediscovered a winning formula against the 2023 Australian Open winner.
Quite a plot twist in Italy.
— Matt Zemek (@mzemek) May 11, 2023
Jessica Pegula Is Out, But American Women Advance
Just when people believed that the WTA has its Big 3 of Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina, Kenin serves notice that this may not necessarily be the case with her defeat of Sabalenka.
Earlier in the day, World No. 3 Jessica Pegula lost a three set match to fellow American Taylor Townsend who has been surging on the singles and doubles fronts with partner Leylah Fernandez.
Back and better than ever 🚀@TaylorTownsend defeats No.3 seed and American compatriot, Pegula, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3!#IBI23 pic.twitter.com/ImQXeIeJG7
— wta (@WTA) May 11, 2023
Townsend is working her way back after giving birth to her son Adyn Aubrey on March 14, 2021.
She is currently ranked 168th in singles and 6th in doubles.
Cocoa Gauff only lost one game in her second round match against Yulia Putinseva.
Sparkling from start to finish ✨@CocoGauff is up and running in Rome!#IBI23 pic.twitter.com/RrVpT9aA4S
— wta (@WTA) May 11, 2023
And Madison Keys is into the third round.
Keys-y does it 💪
2016 Rome runner-up @Madison_Keys defeats qualifier Frech 6-3, 6-2 and awaits Azarenka in Round 3!#IBI23 pic.twitter.com/siTsIsnGCr
— wta (@WTA) May 11, 2023
Keys was the 2016 Italian Open runner-up to the last American to win this tournament: Serena Williams.
A Competitive WTA Playing Field
Whereas, in previous years, fans expected Serena Williams or Ashleigh Barty to dominate the women’s singles draw, we have not seen a women’s tennis player sustain that level for that long.
Two-time Italian Open Champion Iga Swiatek was practically unstoppable in 2022 and is the World No. 1, but even she has been beatable in 2023.
All this makes for great tennis viewing for fans and renewed hope that an American woman can win a clay court tournament in the month of May in 2023.
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