World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is set to face Marta Kostyuk in the round-of-16 of the 2025 Italian Open, following a hard-fought victory against Sofia Kenin. Sabalenka, who is on an impressive eight-match winning streak, came back from a set down to defeat Kenin with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. In her previous matches, she converted 6 out of 23 break points, showcasing her tenacity and skill on the court.
Kostyuk, on the other hand, reached this round by defeating Leylah Fernandez in straight sets, continuing her strong performance in Rome without losing a single set against Alexandra Eala, Daria Kasatkina, and Fernandez. The Ukrainian player is seeking her first quarterfinal appearance at the Italian Open.
In their head-to-head, Sabalenka holds a dominant 3-0 record against Kostyuk, including a prior victory just a month ago in Madrid, which ended with a close score of 7-6(4) 7-6(7). Notably, Sabalenka has a 2-0 record against Kostyuk on clay courts.
Given Sabalenka’s extraordinary form this season, with a 33-5 win-loss record and titles in both Madrid and Miami, she stands as the clear favorite to win this matchup. Kostyuk’s path to the fourth round has been impressive, but facing the world number one on a big stage like the Italian Open presents a significant challenge.
The matchup promises to be exciting, as both players bring their best efforts onto the court. Sabalenka aims for her third WTA 1000 title this season as she strives to capture her first Italian Open title, while Kostyuk looks to make her mark by advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time.
Prediction leans towards Sabalenka securing a straight-sets victory, underlining her prowess on clay and her determination to dominate the tournament.