Halep out as Vondrousova impresses in Rome

Published by Tennismash

RISING STAR: Czech Marketa Vondrousova continued her impressive season, eliminating Simona Halep in Rome; Getty Images
Czech teen Marketa Vondrousova scored her second win over world No.2 Simona Halep this season, helping the 19-year-old reach the final eight in Rome.

Marketa Vondrousova knocked out world No.2 Simona Halep and Daria Kasatkina on a packed day of action at the Italian Open.

A washout on Wednesday in Rome left players facing a gruelling day of two matches if they were to make progress on Thursday.

Czech teenager Vondrousova saw off Halep, runner-up for the last two years in Rome, 2-6 7-5 6-3 – her second win over Halep in two months following victory in Indian Wells.

The 19-year-old went on to defeat former top-10 player Kasatkina 7-5 2-6 6-2 and now faces Britain’s Johanna Konta in the quarterfinals.

“I just played great match, I think. I was just really enjoying myself out there. The crowd was amazing,” Vondrousova said after the win over Halep.

French Open champion Halep revealed a slight injury concern two weeks ahead of her title defence in Paris.

After describing Vondrousova as “very talented’, Halep added that she had started to feel an issue with her leg.

“Nothing, like, tight or something broken. Is just a little bit of injury, which in a few days is going to be okay, I’m sure,” Halep said.

NEWS: Federer battles into Rome quarterfinals

Konta was another player to chalk up two impressive wins as she saw off Sloane Stephens 6-7(3) 6-4 6-1 and then Venus Williams 6-2 6-4.

There were injury worries for Garbine Muguruza, who retired when 6-4 3-1 down to Victoria Azarenka, and Petra Kvitova, who pulled out with a left calf injury when trailing Greece’s Maria Sakkari 7-5 5-7 4-0.

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