Sabalenka Set to Clash with Zheng Qinwen; Gauff to Face Andreeva

ROME: Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka delivered impressive performances at the Foro Italico on Monday, securing their places in the Italian Open quarter-finals.

Gauff’s Dominant Victory

Fourth-seeded Gauff showcased her dominance by overpowering Emma Raducanu with a score of 6-1, 6-2 in their round-of-16 match. From the outset, the American player asserted control, displaying dynamic baseline skills and exceptional agility that left Raducanu struggling to respond.

Gauff’s Post-Match Thoughts

“I would definitely grade my performance as an A,” Gauff commented after the match. “The conditions were challenging with strong winds. Emma is a formidable opponent on any court, so I am very pleased with my performance.

“With each match, my game is improving. Madrid was a positive step. I didn’t like losing in the final there, so I am aiming for redemption here.”

Gauff is now scheduled to compete against the up-and-coming Russian player, Mirra Andreeva, in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Sabalenka’s Triumph Over Kostyuk

Meanwhile, world number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame a strong challenge from Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, securing a 6-1, 7-6(8) victory to advance to the quarter-finals.

Sabalenka swiftly claimed the first set in just 31 minutes but encountered tougher resistance in the second set when Kostyuk broke her serve to take a 5-3 lead.

However, the Belarusian player fought back to force a tie-break, saving a set point at 6-7 before securing the win with four consecutive points.

Sabalenka is set to face Zheng Qinwen of China, the eighth seed in the tournament, in a highly anticipated quarter-final match.