Aryna Sabalenko (WTA No. 2) crashed out of the WTA 1000 in Rome in the second round after a surprise loss to American Sofia Kenin (WTA No. 134), 7-6(4), 6-2.

Aryna Sabalenko, Sofia Kenin eliminated at WTA Rome

With a very good course in 2023, Belarusian Arina Sabalenko caused a negative surprise in the second round in Rome.

Kenin started the first set very well, leading 2-0 and 4-2, but Sabalenko managed to reach the tiebreak, where the American won 7-4.

The second set belonged to Sofia Kenin, who took advantage of the mistakes of the second favorite of the tournament and confidently won it.

The game lasted one hour and 39 minutes.

In the third round, Sofia Kenin will meet Ukrainian Angelina Kalinina (47 WTA).

WTA Rome takes place from May 9 to 20 on the clay in the Foro Italico complex. His total prize money is $3,572,618 and is in the “WTA 1000” category. Iga Svyatek became the champion of the last two competitions.

Know:

• The Italian competition, founded in 1930, has been won three times by a Romanian athlete: Ilie Nestase, 1970 and 1973 editions, and Simona Halep, 2020.

• They have also been in the finals: Ilie Nestase (1974, losing to Bjorn Borg), Virginia Ruzici (1978, 1980, 1981) and Simona Halep (2017, 2018, losing both times to Elina Svitolina).