ROME: Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Naomi Osaka all cruised into the round of 32 at the Italian Open in Rome.
Poland’s top-ranked player Swiatek, seeking her third Rome title, delivered a commanding performance against American Bernarda Pera, securing a 6-0, 6-2 victory in just one hour and 17 minutes.
Meanwhile, American sensation Gauff triumphed 6-3, 6-3 over Poland’s Magdalena Frech in a match lasting one hour and 28 minutes.
Japanese star Osaka sealed her spot in the next round with a 6-3, 6-2 win against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, ranked 20th globally.
Osaka’s swift victory, interrupted briefly by rain, marked her maiden career win over a top 20 player on clay, achieved in a mere one hour and 11 minutes. She’s set to square off against the 11th-ranked player, Daria Kasatkina, in the third round.
Reflecting on her upcoming match, Osaka acknowledged Kasatkina’s clay court prowess, likening her own learning process to that of a “baby giraffe,” expressing humility, and a desire to glean insights from her performance in the tournament thus far.
