High-Stakes Matches at Foro Italico After Weekend Upsets

ROME, Italy — After a weekend of surprising outcomes, all players are set for action on Monday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The day promises excitement with several top seeds and former champions competing at the Foro Italico.

The weekend saw some top-ranked players eliminated, with three of the Top 5 seeds falling in unexpected matches. However, several top contenders advanced. No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 4 Coco Gauff, and No. 7 Mirra Andreeva all secured their spots in the Round of 16.

Sabalenka, with a 3-0 head-to-head record against Marta Kostyuk, comes into the match after defeating No. 31 Sofia Kenin. She has yet to win a title in Rome, but with several top players out of her way, her chances look promising. Kostyuk progressed after winning 6-4, 6-2 against No. 24 Leylah Fernandez.

In another highly anticipated match, Gauff will face Raducanu. The two former US Open champions have only met once before, at the Australian Open earlier this year, where Gauff won in straight sets. Both players are coming off strong performances, with Gauff defeating No. 32 Magda Linette and Raducanu overcoming Veronika Kudermetova.

The matchup between No. 7 Andreeva and No. 22 Clara Tauson brings additional drama. Andreeva has won their last two meetings, including their final match in Dubai earlier this year.

Bianca Andreescu faces Zheng, with Zheng holding a 1-0 advantage in their prior meeting. Both look to build on recent successes, as Andreescu managed to upset No. 11 Elena Rybakina, while Zheng defeated No. 26 Magdalena Frech.

Jasmine Paolini, a local favorite, will take on No. 17 Jelena Ostapenko, who previously defeated Paolini in Doha. Paolini is on track for a strong tournament after her recent victory over Ons Jabeur, while Ostapenko advanced due to a walkover.

There are also matches between No. 13 Diana Shnaider and No. 25 Elise Mertens, and No. 16 Elina Svitolina facing No. 29 Danielle Collins. The day wraps up with a match between Naomi Osaka and Peyton Stearns, where Stearns looks to build on her unexpected success against No. 5 seed Keys.

As players ready themselves for Monday’s matches, the tournament is expected to deliver thrilling competitions as they vie for a place in the quarterfinals.