Osorio Surprise Garcia As Kalinina Beats Kenin In Saturday’s Action At Italian Open In Rome
The upsets just keep on coming in the singles at the Italian Open in Rome. Caroline Garcia joined Ons Jabeur, Jess Pegula, Aryna Sabalenka, Petra Martic and Irina-Camelia Begu as losing favourites in a tournament that is really only just getting started when she fell in straight sets to Colombian Camila Osorio, 6-4 6-4. Elsewhere, Anhelina Kalinina saw off Sofia Kenin in 97 minutes.
The bottom half of the draw in the women’s singles at the Italian Open in Rome was struck by persistent rain delays on Saturday afternoon but that was not enough to stop the action – and the upsets – from unfolding.
Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina beat American Sofia Kenin in straight sets, one set either side of an hour-long rain delay, to advance to the fourth round in just 97 minutes of court time.
With Kenin having produced the upset of the tournament so far in the previous round, defeating world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, she might have been expected to enter this match with confidence. Instead, Kenin piled up five double faults as she saw her serve broken five times – including in the opening game of the match.
After a relatively tight first set, Kenin won her opening service game in the second but then lost the next five in succession.
At 5-1 down the American did manage to hold serve, but Kalinina served out the match in the next game.
The Ukrainian set up the clash with Kenin via a second-round win over Anna Blinkova 6-2 6-2.
French world No. 4 Caroline Garcia became another high-profile casualty at this tournament when world No. 100 Camila Osorio beat her 6-4 6-4.
🔥Vamos! 🔥@CamiOsorioTenis defeats No.4 Garcia in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 securing her spot in round 4 of a WTA Masters for the first time in her career! #IBI23 pic.twitter.com/lH7rO3RGC1
— wta (@WTA) May 13, 2023
The Colombian Osorio broke Garcia in the opening game of the match. While she was herself broken in the following game, she did not drop another service game and saved seven further break points.
Osorio’s only career WTA title to date, the 2021 Copa Colsanitas in Colombia, also came on clay, while she has also won three ITF titles on the surface.
Osorio was ecstatic after claiming victory: “I literally have no words to describe what I’m feeling. I’ve been struggling a lot with injuries. Now that I’m back & beating No. 5 in the world I still can’t believe it. I’m super happy & proud. I’m so thankful for all the support.”
She will face the winner Bia Haddad Maia in the next round after the Brazilian eased past Magda Linette, 7-5 6-4.
Linette dropped an early service game, and Maia took her next two to love to move into a 4-2 lead. Serving for the set, Maia was herself broken but broke back in the next game before holding to take the set 7-5.
Maia raced into a 4-0 lead in the second set, dropping just two points en route, before taking her foot off the accelerator somewhat as Linette pulled it back to 3-2. The Brazilian stabilised from there and served out the match to love in the tenth game of the set.
Camila Osorio’s reaction after beating Caroline Garcia is one of the best things you’ll see all day.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 13, 2023
She’s shocked, relieved, and skipping back to her bag.
I’m sure everyone in the crowd can feel the happiness radiating off of her ☀️ pic.twitter.com/Xo0grhjXUC
China’s Xiyu Wang bucked the trend of upsets but not without a scare from Taylor Townsend.
Wang advanced after a 6-2 0-6 7-5 victory in two hours and 13 minutes.
The first set saw three breaks of serve in the opening four games, with Wang getting the better of her American rival before accelerating away in the back end. Wang took her final two service games to love before breaking Townsend to take the set.
The American World No. 168 then produced a sensational second set, dropping just 12 points as she won to love in just 32 minutes.
The third set took as long as the first two combined.
Townsend led 2-1 thanks to an early break and saved two break points in the sixth game to maintain her advantage. The match hinged on the tenth game as Townsend served for the match. The American dropped match point before being broken and surrendering her lead.
Wang held her next game and broke Townsend again to take the match and move on to the next round.
Coco Gauff, and Madison Keys are in action through the evening in Rome.
