Sloane Stephens won her first-round match of the WTA 1000 Rome Open versus Nadia Podoroska

The American tennis player Sloane Stephens continues its strong performance on the court, winning her first-round match of the WTA 1000 Rome Open versus Nadia Podoroska (Argentina) by 2-0 (6:4, 6:1) in 1:24 hours.

The American made two breaks in the first set and three more in the second, winning six consecutive games to close the match for less than an hours and a half.

In the next round, Sloane Stephens will face the 14th-seeded and formed world’s number one Victoria Azarenka (Belarus).

Magdalena Frech (Poland) also advanced to the second round after defeating Matilde Paoletti (Italy) by 2-1 (4:6, 6:2, 7:5). In the next round she will face the 19th-seeded Madison Keys (USA)

Anna Bondar (Hungary) eliminated Tatjana Maria (Germany) by 2-0 (6:4, 6:1), while Ana Bogdan (Romania) defeated Nao Hibino (Japan) by 2-0 (7:5, 6:0) and Camila Osorio (Colombia) won her match versus Varvara Gracheva (Russia) by 2-1 (7:6, 1:6, 7:6).

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia), who missed whole second half of 2022 season due to knee injury, is slowly getting in form and also qualified for the second round after a straight set victory versus Sara Errani (Italy) by 2-0 (6:1, 6:1).

Taylor Townsend (USA) defeated Ysaline Bonaventure (Belgium) by 2-1 (4:6, 6:1, 7:5), while Elisabetta Cocciaretto (Italy) eliminated Lauren Davis (USA) by 2-0 (6:3, 6:0).