Sabalenka Advances with Victory Over Potapova in Rome

ROME — Aryna Sabalenka continued her impressive performance by defeating Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. This victory marks her seventh consecutive win.

As Sabalenka crossed from the Court Centrale to the terrace for media duties, fans called her name, igniting excitement in the crowd. Smiling and waving, the World No. 1 even took a moment to capture a photo with the enthusiastic fans. However, her match with Potapova had just ended, and the two showed a playful exchange when Potapova humorously stuck up her middle finger at Sabalenka.

After the match, Sabalenka addressed the lighthearted moment, saying, “If she beat me, I would probably do the same. She’s a nice girl and we are good friends.” This showcases the camaraderie between the players, despite the competitive nature of the sport.

On the court, Sabalenka demonstrated her impressive skillset, hitting 70% of her first serves and winning 80% of those points. She also struck 18 winners during the match. The Madrid champion noted that she had to adapt to the different conditions in Rome, where the ball has a lower bounce than what she experienced in Madrid.

“I had to figure out the court and how to use my game in the best way on this surface,” she explained. “This match was more like me trying to adjust to the surface.” Her adjustments included using drop shots, a skill that has become an important part of her game.

Next, Sabalenka will face No. 31 seed Sofia Kenin, who advanced after defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-0. Sabalenka holds a 3-1 lead in their head-to-head matchups, although one loss occurred here in Rome two years ago. With no fear of repeating that outcome, she sees the upcoming match as a chance for “good revenge.”