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 [May 15, 2023]
Marie Bouzkova rallied from a set down on Sunday to knock off
sixth-seeded Coco Gauff 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the round of 16 at
the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome.
The 27th-seeded Bouzkova was outplayed in the first set but
drastically turned things around by losing just four games over the
final two sets.
The Czech Republic native saved five of eight break points while
winning in 2 hours and 8 minutes.
"Even after the first set, I just kept on fighting, and I kind of
knew that I had to elevate my game to get the win today, and at
least stay in the match," Bouzkova said. "I think I did that pretty
well, and then my service games started to work, and I just started
to feel really comfortable on the court."
Gauff had six aces with half of them coming in the opening set.
Bouzkova will next face No. 11 seed Veronika Kudermetova, who
recorded a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 victory over fellow Russian Anastasia
Potapova, the No. 23 seed, on Saturday.
Top-seeded Iga Swiatek advanced with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Lesia
Tsurenko of Ukraine. Swiatek is 11-1 on clay this season.
After losing the first two games, Swiatek won the ensuing 12 games
in convincing fashion.
"After a pretty rusty start, I was able to break back pretty
quickly, so I'm happy that I played a solid game," Swiatek said.
"Just have another experience playing on center court, and I'm happy
that it wasn't raining."
Swiatek will next face No. 21 seed Donna Vekic. The Croatian moved
on with a 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory over No. 16 Liudmila Samsonova
of Russia.
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No. 7 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan had a short
day as her opponent, Russia's Anna Kalinskaya, retired with a hand
injury in the first set. Rybakina was leading 4-3.
"I didn't expect it, of course," Rybakina said. "I
just want to wish Anna to recover as soon as possible. I'm happy to
play another match and, hopefully, I can show my best."
Rybakina will next face Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who registered a
7-5, 6-3 upset of ninth-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece.
No. 8 seed Daria Kasatkina of Russia survived a scare by outlasting
Austria's Julia Grabher 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (2).
No. 10 seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic wasn't as
fortunate as No. 20 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia delivered a 7-6 (2),
6-0 victory. Ostapenko had a 21-9 edge in winners.
Spain's Paula Badosa cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 32 seed
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine. No. 19 Madison Keys won in a walkover when
No. 14 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus withdrew due to a leg injury.
Also, Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic notched a 7-6 (4), 6-2
win over Italy's Camili Giorgi.
--Field Level Media
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