Badosa, Kerber Rome Masters Day 1 Winners; Osaka Returns Wed With Fognini, Shapovalov In Action

The Rome Masters kicked off Tuesday with an early slate of first round matches in the women’s draw. Among the highlights, former Top 5 Paula Badosa rolled past 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in rather easy fashion 6-2, 6-3.

Veteran Angelique Kerber also advanced with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Lauren Davis. Also, Romania’s Ana Bogdan handled Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-1, Yulia Putintseva took care of Italy’s Martina Trevisan 6-3, 6-4 and Shelby Rogers of the United States defeated another Italian, Lisa Pigat, 6-1, 6-0.

Tomorrow, the first round wraps up for the women with the return of Naomi Osaka. The former No. 1 hasn’t played in Rome since 2021. She made the quarters there in 2019, her best showing.

Osaka will take on Frenchwoman Clara Burel. Sofia Kenin is also in action against Italian Lucia Bronzetti and Sara Errani meets Amanda Anisimova.

The men’s draw opens play with Italians getting show courts Fabio Fognini is scheduled against Dan Evans along with Luca Darderi who faces Denis Shapovalov. Gael Monfils will be on Pietrangeli court to face Thiago Monteiro.