Maria Sharapova among Russian quartet to advance in Rome
Maria Sharapova, Daria Kasatkina, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Vesnina all reached the round two of the Italian Open.
Former world No 1 Sharapova appears to have turned the corner following poor form and injury problems after the Australian Open as she followed up her quarter-final run in Madrid with a first-round win on Tuesday.
The three-time Rome winner overcame a second-set wobble to beat Ashleigh Barty from Australia 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, and book a date with Dominika Cibulkova.
Three-time @InteBNLdItalia champion @MariaSharapova advances to the second round!
Defeats Ashleigh Barty 7-5, 3-6, 6-2! pic.twitter.com/g3HtlQXzKV
— WTA (@WTA) May 15, 2018
Fourteenth seed Kasatkina, a runner-up at the Indian Wells Masters in March, had no problems as she brushed aside Anja Tomljanovic from Australia 6-0, 6-4 to set up a clash against Danielle Collins, who beat Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
.@DKasatkina advances to the @InteBNLdItalia second round!
Defeats Ajla Tomljanovic 6-0, 6-4! pic.twitter.com/encEPleVOb
— WTA (@WTA) May 15, 2018
Former Grand Slam winner Kuznetsova continues her recovery from injury as she eased past Polona Hercog with a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Next up is Anett Kontaveit
Vesnina earned herself a second-round encounter against Venus Williams as she claimed a 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 win over Germany’s Laura Siegemund.
Two-time major winner Angelique Kerber, though, flew the German flag high as she beat Zarina Diyas 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).
.@AngeliqueKerber progresses to the @InteBNLdItalia second round!
Beats Zarina Diyas 6-2, 7-6(6)! pic.twitter.com/gGePIhym2L
— WTA (@WTA) May 15, 2018
Madrid Open finalist Kiki Bertens couldn’t carry her form over to Rome as she was a first-round casualty, losing 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 against Maria Sakkari, who will face sixth seed Karolina Pliskova in the next round.
