MINSK, 12 May (BelTA) – Belarus’ world number 8 Aryna Sabalenka moved into the Italian Open quarterfinal powering past world number 11 Jessica Pegula of the United States, 6-1, 6-4, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian will next play either U.S. world number 32 Amanda Anisimova or U.S. world number 9 Danielle Collins. Aryna Sabalenka needed 50 minutes to see off China’s world number 42 Zhang Shuai, 6-2, 6-0, to reach the Italian Open second round.
Belarus’ world number 16 Victoria Azarenka will face world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland in the round of Last 16. Victoria Azarenka cruised past world number 56 Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland, 6-3, 6-0, in the opener and defeated Colombia’s world number 58 Osorio Serrano, 6-2, 6-4, to move into the Italian Open third round.
The tournament in the Italian capital will complete on 15 May. Next, the world’s best tennis players will travel to Paris where Roland Garros will kick off on 22 May.