Coco Gauff extends Angelique Kerber’s losing run as Leylah Fernandez and Simona Halep also advance at Italian Open

Coco Gauff recorded an impressive 6-1 6-4 victory over former world No.1 Angelique Kerber at the Italian Open as Leylah Fernandez, Simona Halep and Victoria Azarenka all advanced in Rome. A semi-finalist last year, No. 15 seed Gauff took just 70 minutes to dismiss Kerber, who is now on a six-match losing streak.

Ad/> «We had a lot of close games even though the first set went 6-1, a lot of games went to deuce or 30-30,» said Gauff, who lost to Kerber at Wimbledon last year. ATP MadridNadal's frantic sprint to watch Real beat City after his own victory — Madrid Open Diary05/05/2022 AT 07:54 «Footwork and movement against her was crucial. She can change direction on some balls that a lot of players can't, so you don't really expect it.

»I felt like I was off-footed a lot, but I think what came through today is really how I handled myself." /> Meanwhile, US Open finalist Fernandez recovered from a set down to beat Anastasia Pavlychenkova 1-6 6-2 6-2. «She's an incredible player and she's very comfortable on clay. I knew it was going to be tough,» said Fernandez.

«The first set, I made a few mistakes and she just took advantage of it. In the second set, I just wanted to play a little more freely, just letting go of my arms. Raducanu to play Birmingham event ahead of Wimbledon Osaka withdraws from WTA Rome with ankle injury 'I'm a loner' — Raducanu enjoying independence as she prepares for Italian Open »Even though I lost the first game, I think it helped me to get into the match.

Afterwards, my balls were just going in. I'm just glad that I was able to keep attacking, keep being on the offensive, even though I was making mistakes, and I still kept trusting myself." Unseeded Halep will provide a stern test for No. 7 seed