Aryna Sabalenka advances to Round of 32 of Italian Open
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka stormed into the Round of 32 at the Italian Open with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over Anastasia Potapova on Centre Court Friday.
Sabalenka, fresh off a strong clay season, wasted little time asserting dominance over her Russian opponent.
With a sharp 70% first serve percentage and an impressive 80% win rate on her first serve points, the Belarusian dictated play from the outset.
Potapova, meanwhile, struggled to find rhythm, recording five double faults and failing to generate a single break point opportunity throughout the match.
Sabalenka converted four of her seven break point chances and won 25 points on return, keeping consistent pressure on Potapova's serve.
In a match that lasted just over an hour, Sabalenka won 58 of the 97 total points played, including 33 on serve and eight out of 12 games.
Her aggressive baseline play and superior service games allowed her to win five consecutive games at one point, compared to Potapova's maximum of one.
The win marks Sabalenka's continued momentum on clay as she eyes her first Rome title.
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