Former Rome Open champion Svitolina beaten by compatriot Tsurenko in round one

Former champion of the Rome Open, Elina Svitolina, is out of the event in the first round getting beaten by compatriot Lesia Tsurenko 6-4 6-3.

If there was a player that Svitolina would have gladly lost it's probably her compatriot Lesia Tsurenko who has been one of those active in keeping the war in Ukraine a talking point in tennis. Both of them have dealt with very tough situations since the war started and playing the match today was certainly emotional for both.

Svitolina remembers Rome for good things as she won here in the past but today she wasn't able to produce the needed level to beat her compatriot. It was a close and competitive match but Tsurenko was simply better as she's in a better competitive rhythm than Svitolina. It's only been a while since the former top 10 player has been playing so it will take her some time to find her best tennis.

Svitolina opened the match with a 2-0 lead but allowed her opponent to turn things around to making it 4-2 which was almost enough to win the first set. Svitolina made it 4-4 again but Tsurenko broke once more to finish it off 6-4. The second set largely saw Tsurenko outplay Svitolina as she closed it out 6-3.