Italian Open: Paula Badosa writes 2022 runner-up Ons Jabeur's Rome farewell in 2R

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The upsetting trend at the Italian Open continued on Friday. Defending finalist and fourth seed Ons Jabeur made her way out after losing her opening-round match at the hands of Paula Badosa. The Spaniard took home a 6-1, 6-4 win after 70 minutes of play.

This was the first tournament the Tunisian was playing since an injury to her calf forced her to quit in her semi-final against Iga Swiatek in Stuttgart, a month ago. Post that, the 28-year-old also missed the Mutua Madrid Open where she was the reigning champion.

Against Jabeur in Italy, Badosa won 67% of her first-serve points and 47% of her second-serve points. The Spaniard also won 61% points on return on her opponent’s second serve. Badosa created 18 break point chances on Jabeur’s serve of which she converted 11.

On her serve, she saved one of the three break points she faced. Following Jabeur’s exit, three of the top four seeds have already been ousted in the second round. Meanwhile, Badosa will play 32nd seed Marta Kostyuk. The Ukrainian Claire Liu 6-0, 6-4 in their round-of-64 match.

Italian Open: Marketa Vondrousova's wondrousness

Marketa Vondrousova needed only 55 minutes to come through against 24th seed Bianca Andreescu. The Czech lost only one game, 6-0, 6-1 against the Canadian. The southpaw won 91% of her first-serve points and 57% of her second-serve points.

She also won 84% points on return on Andreescu’s second serve. Throughout the match, Vondrousova didn’t face any break points but converted six of 12 break points she generated on the former US Open champion’s serve.

Lastly, seventh seed Elena Rybakina also advanced to the third round of the Italian Open. The Kazakh took out local hopeful, Jasmine Paolini, 7-6(4), 6-1 in an hour and 34 minutes. Reaching the third round in Rome’s been the best result Rybakina’s achieved.

Earlier, she’d reached the third round in 2020 and 2022. Photo Credit: The Tennis Letter Twitter