Aryna Sabalenka Advances to Last 16 at Rome Open

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka secured a decisive victory on Sunday, advancing into the round of 16 at the Rome Open with a commanding win over Dayana Yastremska. Sabalenka dominated the match, triumphing 6-4, 6-2.

The second-seeded Sabalenka clinched her first victory against Ukrainian Yastremska in four encounters, setting up an intriguing clash in the next round against either Elina Svitolina, a two-time Foro Italico winner, or Anna Kalinskaya.

The 26-year-old Belarusian displayed exceptional form, dispatching Yastremska in just one hour and 28 minutes. Sabalenka did not drop a single service game, showcasing her dominance and composure throughout the match.

Although Sabalenka has yet to win in Rome, her strong performance suggests a potential deep run akin to her 2022 semi-final appearance. Notably, she boasts two Madrid clay titles.

Maria Sakkari Eyes Showdown with Victoria Azarenka

In earlier action, Maria Sakkari positioned herself for a likely round of 16 encounter with Victoria Azarenka, who was scheduled to face Egyptian Mayar Sherif later on Sunday.

Novak Djokovic's Return Amid Controversy

Meanwhile, men's top seed Novak Djokovic is poised to take on Chile's Alejandro Tabilo as he pursues his sixth Rome title and record-extending 41st Masters 1000 crown. The world number one’s participation was initially in doubt after an accidental head injury during a post-match autograph session. Djokovic, however, confirmed his appearance for the third round on Saturday, even humorously donning a bicycle crash helmet during practice.

Djokovic's potential withdrawal would have been a setback for the tournament, already missing top Italian players like Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini. Additionally, the early exit of clay-court maestro Rafael Nadal at the hands of seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz has added further intrigue to the competition.