MusaAryna Sabalenka proved once again why she’s the woman to beat in 2025, digging deep to grind out a gutsy 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Sofia Kenin in the third round of the Italian Open.
It took the world No. 1 two hours and 13 minutes on Centre Court at the Foro Italico to dispatch the former Grand Slam champion, after a rocky start saw her broken three times and struggling on serve landing just 41% of points on her first delivery in the opening set.
But as champions do, Sabalenka roared back. She broke Kenin three times in the second set, then wrestled control in the decider, showcasing her signature blend of power and grit to close out the match.
The numbers tell the story: Sabalenka created a jaw-dropping 23 break point opportunities her highest ever in a single WTA match and only the second time she’s generated 20 or more. It was a pressure-cooker performance from start to finish.
“I was going really tough on myself,” Sabalenka admitted after the match. “It was a tough one she played incredible tennis in the first set. But I kept fighting and I’m super happy I found a way to win.”
And fight she has. This win marks Sabalenka’s eighth in a row, with two in Rome added to the six match title run in Madrid. Her season tally now stands at a WTA Tour-leading 33 victories her best ever count before the French Open.
Sabalenka is also developing a reputation as the comeback queen. Since the start of 2024, she’s pulled off nine wins at WTA 1000 level events after dropping the first set more than any other player.
Up next? A rematch with a familiar foe in what’s shaping up to be another blockbuster showdown. Sabalenka has dominated their head-to-head 3-0, including a tight two-tiebreak win in the Madrid quarter-finals.
The Belarusian is still hunting her maiden title in Rome, having finished runner-up here last year. With Iga Swiatek her main rival and the reigning Roland Garros champion falling to Danielle Collins in the third round, Sabalenka’s path to the French Open looks clearer than ever.
A runner-up in Stuttgart and champion in Madrid, Sabalenka now stands alone as the front-runner on clay. And if this Rome run is anything to go by, she’s peaking at just the right time.
Could Paris be hers next? All signs point to yes.
Musa
