(Reuters) – Former world quantity ones Simona Halep and Victoria Azarenka superior to the second spherical of the Italian Open in Rome whereas four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was compelled to withdraw from the match attributable to an ankle injury.
Halep, champion in Rome in 2020, beat France’s Alize Cornet 6-4 6-4, exacting revenge for her fourth spherical loss on the Australian Open in January.
In a match that had 10 break factors transformed by the 2 gamers, Halep led 5-1 in each units earlier than Cornet fought again on each events earlier than the Romanian received the job finished, sealing progress with a forehand winner on Cornet’s serve.
Azarenka met a well-recognized foe in Swiss Viktorija Golubic, who she beat on the similar stage of the Madrid Open late final month.
Although the match in Madrid was a better contest, this time Azarenka beat her emphatically with a 6-3 6-0 scoreline, wrapping up the match in simply 68 minutes.
Organisers confirmed Osaka had withdrawn attributable to a left ankle injury and her opponent Sara Sorribes Tormo will now face fortunate loser Nuria Parrizas Diaz.
Defending champ and prime seed Iga Swiatek and Madrid champ Ons Jabeur are in motion on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
