World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka eases through Anastasia Potapova test to open Rome Open campaign

Aryna Sabalenka eased smoothly through against Anastasia Potapova in just 63 minutes as she prevailed 6-2, 6-2 against the Russian who she was due to play at the Stuttgart Open last month before her late withdrawal.

Sabalenka now has extended her winning streak since that tournament to seven matches. She was also a runner-up in Stuttgart last month losing to Jelena Ostapenko and sealed the title in Madrid.

She is looking to back up a Madrid title with Rome for the first time. She fell in the third round in 2021 as the champion in Madrid. She lost to Coco Gauff that year. In 2023 she was ousted by Sofia Kenin while last year she was runner-up losing out to Iga Swiatek.

But with the Pole not exactly being top of her game right now, she will sense an advantage to show she is the top clay court star heading into Roland Garros. She did that early on here going about her business against a tricky operator on paper but one she passed with flying colours.

Elsewhere speaking of Sofia Kenin, she passed her test against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with flying colours. She eased through 6-3, 6-0. While Maria Sakkari is facing adversity against Magda Linette.

Sakkari won the first set with ease 6-1 but has since gone down 6-4, 2-0 down against Linette in the next two sets. Victoria Azarenka and Clara Tauson are also looking to reach the next round currently.

Match Statistics Sabalenka vs. Potapova