Canada’s Bianca Andreescu secured a hard-fought victory over Sofia Kenin to progress to the second round of the Italian Open in Rome.
Andreescu delivered a resilient performance, winning 6-4, 7-5 in a match that lasted one hour and 46 minutes. The Canadian capitalized on key opportunities, converting five of six break points while firing five aces to maintain control during crucial moments.
Kenin had her chances to shift momentum, earning six break-point opportunities, but managed to convert only three. The defeat extends her head-to-head record against Andreescu to 2-5, despite having won their previous encounter at the Charleston Open last month.
The 25-year-old Andreescu, a former world No. 4, continues her comeback campaign after a series of injury setbacks. Currently ranked 137th on the WTA Tour, she has built solid form this season, improving her record to 21-8, largely through strong performances on lower-tier circuits.
Looking ahead, Andreescu will face Belinda Bencic, the tournament’s 12th seed, in the next round. Their head-to-head record is evenly split, setting up a competitive clash at the prestigious clay-court event.