Bogdan ousts Fernandez in first spherical of Italian Open

Ana Bogdan relied on her consistency and tenacity to beat Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez 6-4, 6-1 in a single hour, 43 minutes to advance to the second spherical of the Italian Open.

Whereas Fernandez was the favorite heading to the match, the world No. 34 struggled regularly along with her timing on the Internazionali BNL D’Italia,

It was Bogdan of Romania who imposed her tennis within the early phases, seizing a fast break of serve to determine an early 2-0 first-set lead.

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Fernandez initially responded, although at 2-2, the 21-year-old coughed up a 40-0 benefit to the Romanian, surrendering a second break of function she struggled to soak up her tempo.

The veteran 31-year-old remained the steadier of the 2 gamers, regularly counter-punching and resisting the aggressive play of the Canadian, as she constructed a 5-3 lead.

Whereas Fernandez saved a set level to carry serve for 4-5, Bogdan stored her at bay to shut out the opening set 6-4 in 58 minutes because the Canadian misfired on a backhand huge.

This pattern continued into the second set – the Quebec native struggled along with her timing whereas Bogdan pushed rallies along with her sturdy courtroom protection.

Although Fernandez secured a gap service maintain, Bogdan would shortly once more snatch the rating, breaking for a 2-1 lead.

The Romanian additional constructed on the scoreboard benefit, profitable a prolonged side-to-side alternate to forge forward 4-1.

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On her first match level, Bogdan sealed the victory with a clear backhand crosscourt winner to finish the upset.

It was the first-career assembly between the gamers. The Romanian capitalized on the Canadian’s second serve, profitable 12 of a doable 18 factors. She was additionally opportunistic by changing on 5 of eight break level possibilities.

With the loss, Fernandez drops to 8-10 on her 2024 marketing campaign, and simply 1-3 on clay.

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The 21-year-old was the lone Canadian participant within the ladies’s subject. Each Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov are set compete within the males’s draw later this week.