Canadian tennis players Bianca Andreescu and Victoria Mboko both achieved impressive victories in the opening round of the Italian Open WTA 1000 tournament on Wednesday, overcoming local players with relative ease.
Andreescu, hailing from Mississauga, Ontario, faced Italy’s Federica Urgesi and secured a resounding 6-0, 6-3 win. The former world No. 4 showcased her skills by winning 97.1% of her first service points and not facing a single break point in the first set. Although Urgesi managed to put up a fight in the second set, including a break and a hold, Andreescu finished strong, converting six of her ten break-point opportunities. She is set to take on 20th-seed Donna Vekic of Croatia in the next round. Their previous encounter occurred last year at the Paris Olympics, where Vekic emerged victorious on clay.
Meanwhile, Vancouver’s Mboko defeated Italy’s Arianna Zucchini with a score of 6-2, 6-3. The 18-year-old showcased her competitive spirit by converting six break points during the match, including a stretch of three consecutive breaks in the second set. After an outstanding season boasting a 33-3 record and five titles on the ITF circuit, Mboko will face fourth seed Coco Gauff in her next match.
Of note, 24th-seed Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Quebec, received a bye in the first round, while Felix Auger-Aliassime, Gabriel Diallo, and Denis Shapovalov represent Canada in the men’s draw. Diallo is scheduled to play against American Marcos Giron in first-round action, while both Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov have byes.
Overall, the performances from Andreescu and Mboko highlight the rising talent of Canadian tennis players on the international stage, showcasing a hopeful future as they compete against tough opponents in prestigious tournaments.