ROME (SportingAlert) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka rallied from a set down to defeat American Sofia Kenin at the Italian Open (2025 Internazionali BNL d’Italia) on Sunday, while defending champion Alexander Zverev made quick work of his opponent to advance.
Sabalenka, the reigning U.S. Open champion, lost the first set 6-3 before powering back to take the next two sets by the same score against the 31st-seeded Kenin. She will face Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in the next round.
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Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu also staged a comeback after dropping the first set against Veronika Kudermetova. The British player recovered impressively to win 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 and set up a meeting with American Coco Gauff, who defeated Poland’s Magda Linette 7-5, 6-3.
In men’s action, second-ranked Zverev dominated Lithuanian qualifier Vilius Gaubas 6-4, 6-0 in their third-round match. The German will next play France’s Arthur Fils, who upset Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Carlos Alcaraz, who is expected to also challenge for the men’s title, was on court against Laslo Djere at the time of writing this report. Alcaraz was leading the contest after wining the first set and leading by three games in the second set.