Bianca Andreescu upsets Donna Vekic in Italian Open second round

Bianca Andreescu (Hameltion, Wikimedia Commons)

Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ontario, the 2019 United States Open champion, is in the third round of the 2025 Italian Open thanks to a second round upset. Andreescu defeated the 20th seed Donna Vekic of Croatia, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

Andreescu was by far the better server in the match. Andreescu had four aces and five double faults. Vekic had two aces and 11 double faults. Andreescu saw Vekic’s serve extremely well as she broke Vekic five times in 14 opportunities.

Vekic’s best grand slam result was making the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2024. She is also the reigning Olympic silver medalist from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Next up for Andreescu in the third round is the 11th seed, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022. Rybakina has won all three matches against Andreescu. They came in the second round of Wimbledon in 2022 (6-4, 7-6), first round of Dubai in 2023 (6-3, 6-4), and second round in Madrid in 2025 (6-3, 6-2).

Andreescu is one of two Canadians left in the women’s draw. The other is the 24th seed Leylah Annie Fernandez of Montreal, Quebec. Fernandez beat Antonia Ruzic of Croatia 6-4. 6-0 in round two and will next play Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the third round. This will be their first head-to-head meeting on the WTA Tour.

 

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