Sabalenka Sent Off By Kenin In Rome Masters Shocker, Pegula Upset; Swiatek, Jabeur Fri.
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Two shockers hit the Rome draw on the opening day of the second round as seeds made their debut. The two highest seeds in the bottom half are out thanks to Americans!
Madrid champion Aryna Sabalenka fell hard to former French finalist Sofia Kenin 7-6(7-4), 6-2.
The 25-year-old American broke Sabalenka four times. She served for the first and then broke to start the second. Sabalenka never saw a break point in the second set.
“Obviously super happy, I played really well,” Kenin said to the WTA. “Of course she’s had some great results, great year, so of course going into the match there’s not much pressure on my side.
“I tried to use that to my advantage, and of course I felt like an underdog coming in. … I tried to take it to her, do my best. I had to bring my A-game in order to win.”
No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula fell to countrywoman and mother Taylor Townsend in three sets 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Pegula is Townsend’s second Top 10 victim after Simona Halep.
Elsewhere on Thursday, 5th-seeded Caroline Garcia had to battle by Ana Bogdan in three 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
No. 6 Coco Gauff steamrolled Yulia Putintseva in straight sets 6-0, 6-1. No. 11 seed Veronika Kudermetova got by Nuria Parrizas Diaz 7-5, 6-2. Anna Bondar surprised the 13th-seeded former champion Karolina Pliskova 7-6(7-5), 6-2.
The 12th-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia moved past Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-2, 6-3. The 14th-seeded former finalist Victoria Azarenka eliminated Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-3. The 22nd-seeded Qinwen Zheng handled former finalist Alize Cornet of France 6-3, 7-6(7-2).
No. 19 former finalist Madison Keys dismissed Magdalena Frech in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.
Friday’s line-up continues second round play led by No. 1 Iga Swiatek who faces former French finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a first-time tour-level meeting.
No. 4 Ons Jabeur will battle Paula Badosa, No. 7 Elena Rybakina squares off against Jasmine Paolini, No. 8 Daria Kasatkina meets Lisa Pigato, No. 9 Maria Sakkari meets Barbora Strycova, No. 10 Barbora Krejcikova will challenge Danka Kovinic and No. 15 Ekaterina Alexandrova clashes with Camila Giorgi.
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