Aryna Sabalenka appeared merciless to book a place in the fourth round of the Italian Open, Rome 2024 season.
The 2024 Australian Open champion did not face any significant obstacles when he crushed the 32nd seed, Dayana Yastremska, 6-4, 6-2 in the third round of the Italian Open.
“I am now a better tennis player. “I have more things to achieve victory against him,” said Sabalenka in a voice that was still a little hoarse.
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“I felt pretty confident going into this match, knowing that I had everything in place to win.”
At the end of the match, the world number 2 stated that the Italian Open was a dream tournament for him and reflected his desire to win with a smile on his face.
“That comes with experience I think, when I play on that beautiful court and play in front of you all and when you feel the support, it’s quite difficult not to enjoy it,” added Sabalenka.
“I try to enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy my game and do my best every time I’m on the court.”
After tight rallies between the two players in the first six games of the opening set, the second seed finally found a gap in the seventh game and converted a second break point opportunity for a 4-3 lead before finally winning the set.
Both players held serve to start the second set before the 26-year-old took a 4-1 lead and finally set foot in the fourth round.
Throughout the match, the second seed won 76 percent of the points from her first serve and 93 percent of the points from her second serve, while the Ukrainian tennis player, Yastremska won 62 percent of the points from her first serve and 58 percent of the points from her second serve.
The tennis player who has won two Grand Slam titles also saved both break point opportunities he faced and converted three of the ten break point opportunities he created.
In the fourth round of the Italian Open, Aryna Sabalenka will face Yastremska’s compatriot Elina Svitolina after the 16th seed defeated 23rd seed Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-3.
To date, Sabalenka is ahead in head to head against Svitolina with 2-1, including winning their last meeting in Paris in the 2023 season.
