Aryna Sabalenka recorded her 10th clay win this season by defeating Anastasia Potapova at the Italian Open. Currently the World No. 1, Sabalenka has never claimed the Rome title despite reaching the final once and is determined to win it this year after her recent success at the Madrid Open, where she has triumphed three times. Although she has excelled on hard courts with three Grand Slam titles, she has primarily found big wins on clay at Madrid. Last year’s Italian Open saw her lose to Iga Swiatek in the final, and she has yet to reach the French Open final.
After her victory over Potapova, Sabalenka highlighted her physical and mental improvements on clay, emphasizing a need for variety in her game. She has reached seven finals this season and accumulated over 11,000 points in the WTA rankings. Sabalenka has recently begun experimenting with various shots, including drop shots and backhands, which she tried against Potapova. Looking ahead, she faces Sofia Kenin in the third round, seeking revenge after losing to her at the Italian Open in 2023.
