Bianca Andreescu took advantage of Emma Raducanu’s retirement to advance to the second round of the Italian Open in Rome on Tuesday.
The players were in the fourth game of the second set when the US Open champion’s retirement signaled.
The Canadian led the first set 5-2 when the Briton treated his lower back on the field. He bravely went on for four more games before signaling to the referee as Andreescu led 2-1 in the second set.
So far, Andreescu has served well. He played 84.6% of his first balls and won 83.3% of subsequent rallies.
In 11 games played, he had 25 winning shots and made only 5 unforced errors.
That was their first confrontation.
The Ontarian will face in the next round Spanish Nuria Parrizas Diaz, from the qualifications, who took advantage of the abandonment of her compatriot Sara Sorribes Tormo, who was injured in the upper back, to advance to the main draw.
Jelena Ostapenko entrance tomb
The 102nd racquet in the WTA, from qualifying, was able to beat a top 20 player for the first time this season.
Lauren Davis upset No. 11 seed Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.
The 28-year-old American, with no complications, maintains pressure on the Latvian, who is uncomfortable in the service with only 47% victory on his first ball.
Davis offered 11 break points and converted 6, while serving well. He scored 86% of the points scored on his first pitch, in addition to saving three break points on five occasions.
Ostapenko, 13th in the world, suffered in exchanges with 24 unforced errors, against 7 for his opponent.
For the winner of the French Open in 2017, this is the fifth loss in five games since his semi-final in February in Qatar.
Lauren Davis in the second round will face Kazakh Elena Rybakina (17th), who defeated Russian Elina Avanesyan, 146th, in two sets of 6-4 and 7-6 (7/0).
Source: Radio-Canada
