Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open Facebook
Tremors struck Rome yesterday.
A streaking Aryna Sabalenka stood up to shake shack stress today.
World No. 1 Sabalenka withstood a stiff challenge from former French Open finalist Sofia Kenin 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Rome round of 16 for the fourth time in seven appearances.
Empowered by her run to the Madrid title last week, Sabalenka scored her eighth straight victory. The Miami Open champion has won 22 of her last 24 matches charging into four consecutive finals in that span.
Continuing her hunt for maiden Internazionali BNL d’Italia crown, the 2024 Rome runner-up is bidding for her seventh final of the season. If Sabalenka makes it in the Eternal City she will join iconic champions Chrissie Evert, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles as just the fourth women in the Open Era to make seven or more finals before Roland Garros.
Sabalenka battled through a day after two of the Top 5 seeds fell. Defending Rome champion and No. 2-seeded Iga Swiatek was swept by Danielle Collins and Peyton Stearns out-dueled fifth-seeded Madison Keys in a third-set tiebreaker.
Rome’s red clay will pose another challenge for Sabalenka in the round of 16 when she meets Marta Kostyuk for the second straight tournament.
Earlier, Kostyuk cruised through eight of the final 10 games defeating 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-2. Kostyuk converted four of eight break points and won 76 percent of her first-serve points in a one hour, 34-minute week.
In Madrid, Kostyuk held set points in both sets before Sabalenka came back for a tight 7-6(4), 7-6(7) quarterfinal conquest.
Though her best tennis eluded her for stretches today, Sabalenka showed toughness taming the 31st-seeded American to avenge a 7-6(4), 6-2 loss to Kenin at the 2023 Rome.
The feisty Kenin fought off 17 of 23 break points, including overcoming three double faults in saving a couple of match points in her final service games.
Kenin looks to be a far more confident player than the one who staggered through a 16-win 2024 campaign that saw her ranking plummet to No. 86 at year’s end.
Today, Kenin broke Sabalenka twice in a row for a 5-2 lead. In a trend that would continue, Kenin then fought off five break points before Sabalenka converted her sixth break point in the eighth game.
Driving her backhand down the line, Kenin broke a third time to snatch the first set.
Resetting, Sabalenka was channeling her jolting power with more control. Flipping the script, Sabalenka broke twice in a row storming out to a 4-1 lead.
The big-hitting Belarusian won eight of the last nine points to roll through the second set and force a decider.
In a staggering 26-point game, Sabalenka elicited an error converting her seventh break point to break for 2-0 in the decider.
Credit Kenin for a resounding response: She broke back at love in the third game.
A sliding Kenin netted a forehand volley to face break point in the sixth game. Turning her shoulders into a return, Sabalenka unleashed a crackling return down the middle that overwhelmed the American as she broke for 4-2.
A free flowing Sabalenka smacked an ace and rocketed a backhand bolt down the line for 5-2.
A stubborn Kenin stood tall overcoming three double faults and fighting off two match points holding for 3-5.
On her fourth match point, Sabalenka closed forcing a deep return and raising a clenched fist to her box.