MusaAryna Sabalenka kicked off her Italian Open campaign in style, breezing past Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour on Campo Centrale and she had more than just tennis on her mind.
As world No. 1 and a top seed, Sabalenka enjoys the perks that come with her status, including a say in her match scheduling. And this time, her choice was all about one thing: Rome’s famous cuisine.
“Honestly, I had a chance to play at 7pm or 11 and I chose 11,” she told the crowd after the win. “Do you know why? Because I want to go for dinner and I want to have pasta and probably pizza.”
In total control from the first ball, Sabalenka needed just 63 minutes to dispatch Potapova, looking every bit like someone eager to get to her dinner reservation. The win booked her a third-round clash with Sofia Kenin, a familiar opponent she leads 3-1 in their head-to-head though Kenin’s lone win came right here in Rome two years ago.
“I’ll definitely go out for dinner, I’ll walk around the city. I love being in Rome, it’s an incredibly beautiful place,” Sabalenka added, soaking up the Italian vibes as she celebrated a strong start and looked ahead to more than just the next match.
The Belarusian arrives in the Eternal City on a serious high. She claimed her third Madrid Open title just last weekend and celebrated her 27th birthday on Monday. With momentum on her side and a Rome runner-up finish last year still fresh, Sabalenka is hungry both for trophies and for the city’s culinary delights.
“I’m super happy to be back in Rome, super happy with the win today,” she said. “Anastasia is a tough opponent. I’m happy to get through this first round and hopefully I can stay here until the very last stages.”
If she keeps up this level of play and keeps the pizza coming Sabalenka just might leave Rome with more than a satisfied palate.
Musa
Olaniyi Ayoola