Main-draw action started on Monday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Our photographer Jimmie48 attended a half of today’s first-round matches and caught up with a number of top players who are awaiting their openers in Rome.
No.16 seed Donna Vekic is one of two seeded players who fell on Day 1, being edged by unseeded Amanda Anisimova in two tiebreaks, 7-6(4) 7-6(6). The seeding situation is kind of awkward in this case as the world No.27 Anisimova is actually ranked higher at the moment, following her slight post-US Open ranking rise as opposed to Vekic’s drop.
The other upset was produced by qualifier Aliona Bolsova, who eliminated 13th seed Alison Riske in three sets, 5-7 7-6(4) 6-3.
No.10 seed Elena Rybakina, the highest seed in action on Monday, lost just four games against Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0 6-4, just as 11th seed Elise Mertens against Hsieh Su-Wei 6-3 6-1.
Magda Linette beat 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko on the Roman clay in straight sets 6-4 6-3.
The sighting of the day was US Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka, who has just arrived from New York. Simona Halep, Belinda Bencic, Karolina Pliskova, Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens were all chatting with the media as they’re awaiting their second-round matches after enjoying first-round byes.
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