Kenin advances to the second round of Rome with a win, Fernandez is eliminated

Cristina Bucsa made Sofia Kenini work hard at the Italian Open on Tuesday before the former Australian Open champion won 6-3 6-7(8) 7-5 to set up a second-round meeting with world number two Aryna Sabalenka.

American Kenin, who once finished fourth but has dropped to 134th in the world rankings since his 2020 Melbourne Park win due to illness and injuries, was far from his best but managed to overtake Bucsa in just over three hours.

Of course it was difficult, but somehow I managed. “I didn’t feel 100 percent, but it doesn’t matter, a win is a win and I’m going to take it,” said Kenin, who converted seven of his 21 rebounds.

It could have gone either way and it was about who could be mentally strong. I felt tired and…after three hours I imagined he was too so I just had to fight it.

Former US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3, while 2019 French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova beat Kaia Kanep 6-0 4-6 6-2 in the second first set. matches of the round.

Earlier, former world doubles number one Barbora Strycova thrashed Maryna Zanevska 6-1 3-6 6-3 to claim her first singles win since 2020 as she returned to the WTA tour at last weeks Madrid Open after a two-year maternity break.

The 37-year-old Czech will face world number eight Maria Sakkar in the second round.

I can’t believe it, Strycova, who celebrated her victory with her son Vincent, said. I don’t know how it feels because I didn’t really process it.

I left the field and immediately grabbed my son because he was hungry. So I didn’t really know I won the match.

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I am very happy. I’m a little shy to be happy. Also, I feel a little weird because he’s here, and I change the diaper after a while instead of having a glass of wine.

Mayar Sherif, who became the first Egyptian to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 in Madrid, fell in the opening round against Anna Blinkova of Russia, who won 2-6 6-2 6-3.

Led by six-time champion Novak Djokovic and Rome debutant Carlos Alcarazi, the men’s tournament begins on Wednesday.