Aryna Sabalenka. An archive photo
MINSK, 2 June (BelTA) – Belarus’ world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka reached the Roland Garros round of 16, defeating world number 82 Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia, 6-2, 6-2, in an hour and seven minutes, BelTA has learned.
Aryna Sabalenka saw off Ukraine’s world number 39 Marta Kostyuk, 6-3, 6-2, in the opener, overcame a spirited effort by fellow Belarusian Iryna Shymanovich (World No.214) to prevail 7-5, 6-2 in the second round.
Aryna Sabalenka will next play either world number 30 Sloane Stephens of the United States or Kazakhstan’s world number 58 Yulia Putintseva.
Belarusian world number 18 Victoria Azarenka lost to World No.42 Bianca Andreescu of Canada, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, in the first round of the French Open, while Belarus’ world number 51 Aliaksandra Sasnovich lost to world number 127 Clara Tauson of Denmark, 2-6, 0-6.
In the women’s doubles opener Victoria Azarenka paired with Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia defeated Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi and Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova, 6-0, 6-1. Belarus’ Iryna Shymanovich and Brazil’s Ingrid Martins beat Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu and Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina, 6-2, 6-4. Belarus’ Lidziya Marozava and Spain’s Rebeka Masarova lost to Russians Veronika Kudermetova and Lyudmila Samsonova, 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 2-6. In the men’s doubles Ilya Ivashka paired with Australia’s Alexei Popyrin lost to Lloyd Glasspool of the UK and Finland’s Harri Heliovaara, 6-7 (3-7), 5-7.
