Aryna Sabalenka shares interesting reason to play Rome Open second-round encounter in morning instead of evening
WTA
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has revealed the reason
behind picking a morning time for her match at the Rome Open. The WTA 1000 event started on Tuesday, and some of the top players in the world are
participating to showcase their talent and secure the ultimate prize.
On Friday, Sabalenka featured in her first game of the
competition as she defeated Russia’s Anastasia Potapova in straight sets with a
score of 6-2, 6-2. Talking after the match, Sabalenka stated that she had an opportunity to play the match in the evening, but she decided to play in the morning because she wanted to go out in the city, roam around, and have pizza or pasta for dinner. The reigning world number one also stated that she loves the
city and expressed optimism that she will stay in the competition towards the
later stages of the competition.
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“I love being in Rome,” she said. “I love the support. You guys
are amazing. Thank you so much. I am super
happy to be back in Rome. Super happy with the win today. She is a tough
opponent. Happy to get through this round. Hopefully I can stay here till the
very last stages. Honestly, I had a chance to play at 7 PM or 11 AM and I decided
11, you know why? Because I want to go for dinner and have pasta or pizza. So
yea, I will definitely go out for dinner and walk around the city. Its an
incredibly beautiful place.”
Sabalenka will now face one-time Grand Slam winner America’s
Sofia Kenin, who cemented her spot in the next round after beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-0. This will be the fifth meeting between
the two players. In the previous four meetings, Sabalenka had a clear edge as
she won on three occasions.
"I had a chance to play at 7pm or 11am, and I choose 11 because I want to go for dinner and have pasta or pizza" 😅🍝
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 9, 2025
Safe to say Aryna Sabalenka enjoys the cuisine in Rome 😋#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/PTq9byuOL8
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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