Aryna Sabalenka battles past Sofia Kenin and into Italian Open last 16

ROME – Aryna Sabalenka admitted that she did not find it easy as she reached the last 16 of the Italian Open on May 11, after battling back from a set down to beat Sofia Kenin 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

The world No. 1 came through a tough match with 2020 Australian Open winner Kenin to set up a clash with Marta Kostyuk, who beat Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-2.

“I was going really tough on myself,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview.

“It was a tough match – she played incredible tennis in the first set. It was a great fight and super happy to get this match.”

The Belarusian has a great opportunity to claim her first Rome title, and third 1000 series crown of the season, after three-time winner Iga Swiatek was dumped out by Danielle Collins on May 10.

Sabalenka has reached the final of her last four tournaments, winning in both Miami and Madrid, and is now hot favourite at the Foro Italico even after her latest below-par display.

The 2024 losing finalist was not at the races in the first set, consistently misplacing her backhands before appearing to complain about the surface on centre court.

And she continued to lament her game even as she slowly turned the match around, breaking Kenin at the seventh time of asking in the second game of the third set before immediately being broken back to love.

But in the end Sabalenka had too much for her American opponent, showing her fighting spirit even while battling against her own performance.

Meanwhile, American Coco Gauff and Briton Emma Raducanu will meet each other next in the round of 16, in a match between ex-US Open champions.

Fourth seed Gauff came through a tight first set and nervy finish against Poland’s Magda Linette, and needed five match points before she could seal a 7-5, 6-3 victory on May 11.

Raducanu rallied from a set behind to defeat Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova in her third-round match, winning 5-7, 6-0, 6-1.

But third seed Jessica Pegula’s journey ended after she was upset 7-5, 6-1 by Belgium’s Elise Mertens.

In the men’s draw, Carlos Alcaraz will continue his bid for a first Rome title when he takes to centre court to face Laslo Djere in the last match of the day – the result of which was unavailable at press time.

Men’s third seed Alcaraz could face Jannik Sinner in the final, with the Italian sweeping aside Mariano Navone on May 10 in his first match since the end of his three-month doping ban.

Meanwhile, Arthur Fils came back from a set down to beat former Rome finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a thrilling match in the Grand Stand Arena.

“I told him at the net he was playing unbelievable in the first set,” said Fils.

“He was killing me with his forehand, backhand, opening me up on the left and the right. Serving very well. I couldn’t do a lot of things.

“The second set, I started to find the rhythm and the way to fight. Happy to finish strong like this.

“If you let him play, I think he’s one of the best clay-court players. His forehand is a huge weapon. He’s a great champion. If I’m not putting him under pressure, I’m dead.”

In another clash, Daniil Medvedev swept past Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-1. AFP