If Monday was a good day for Americans in Rome, Tuesday was a downer. Americans won only two of the six matches they were involved in but the #1 seed on the women’s side, Serena Williams didn’t have any problems. Williams advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany. In Williams’ next match it’s possible she’ll take on fellow American Christina McHale. McHale was the other American winner on Tuesday as she defeated Claudia Giovine of Italy 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 and will take on #13 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia on Wednesday. Losing on Tuesday was qualifier Alison Riske against Sam Stosur of Australia despite winning the first set and forcing a second set tiebreak. Eventually Stosur prevailed with a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 win. Two American women who were off on Tuesday will be back in action in the second round on Wednesday evening as #12 Venus Williams takes on Timea Babos of Hungary and Madison Keys faces #5 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.
In doubles action Vania King and Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia lost their opener to Lara Arruabarrena of Spain and Sara Errani of Italy 2-6, 6-4, 5-10. The all-American doubles team of Raquel Atawo and Abigail Spears will take on an all-Chinese team of Chen Liang and Yafan Wang on Wednesday.
The US is out in men’s singles after Jack Sock was swept by #12 David Goffin of Belgium 6-4, 6-4. The US has not advanced anyone past the round of 16 in any Masters 1000 level tournament this year. In the doubles competition Rajeev Ram and Raven Klaasen of South Africa lost their opening match 4-6, 0-6 to Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France. Wednesday will featuring an all-American men’s doubles match as #5 Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan are up next for Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey. Sock will also play in doubles on Wednesday as he and Vasek Pospisil of Canada begin play as the #8 seed and take on Treat Huey of the Philippines and Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
Previous Italian Open Coverage:
Preview
Sunday Update
Monday Update