Aryna Sabalenka had to fight hard to record her first win at the 2024 Italian Open, but she eventually succeeded against Katie Volynets.
The 22-year-old American is a very talented player, and she proved it multiple times over the past 12 months. She wanted to prove it once again at the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome, but Sabalenka just proved to be better.
But it wasn't a simple cruise for world no. 2, who had to transfer all of her emotions into positive energy after a rollercoaster first set. She led 3-1 with one break, but she lost the one-break advantage, and after Volynets added another break, she won the first set 6-4.
Sabalenka faced issues also at the start of the second set. She had to save five break points in the third game, but after doing so, she managed to control the remainder of the second set to win it 6-3.
The second seed continued her dominant ride also in the third set, starting the set with a break. Soon after that, she added one more break, and with a 4-1 lead, it seemed that Sabalenka would cruise towards the finish line.
Still, she lost one of the breaks, but she finished the match in the best possible way. Sabalenka won eight consecutive points, winning the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round of the 2024 Italian Open.
Up next, she will play against the 32nd-seeded Dayana Yastremska, who outplayed Laura Siegemund in the second of the tournament.
Should the second seed succeed in the third round, she will play against the winner of the match between Elina Svitolina and Anna Kalinskaya. Her chances to win the tournament increased after the defending champion and one of her rivals, Elena Rybakina, withdrew from the tournament before her first match.
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