In a disappointing start to the Internazionali d'Italia, Lucrezia Stefanini's journey ended in the first round as she faced off against Veronika Kudermetova. The Italian player, who received a wild card entry into the tournament, was eliminated by the world number 50 in a match that lasted just over an hour and a half. Kudermetova secured a straight-sets victory with a score of 7-5, 6-2.
The match began with a bizarre first set, where both players struggled to hold their serves. Errors were plentiful, turning the initial par into what felt like a festival of breaks. Kudermetova managed to keep her head above water despite a lack of quality in her play. The Russian player faced multiple break points but ultimately managed to clinch the first set 7-5, showcasing her ability to capitalize on Stefanini's mistakes.
As the second set unfolded, Kudermetova pressed the accelerator, gaining a crucial break in the third game. Stefanini attempted to respond to the Russian's aggressive play but found it challenging to seize control of the match. Most of the points she managed to win came as a result of her opponent's unforced errors rather than her own offensive strategy.
Despite a glimmer of hope in the fourth game, where Kudermetova faltered with some errors, Stefanini was unable to convert her break point opportunities. The match continued with Kudermetova asserting her dominance, ultimately breaking Stefanini's serve again and sealing the match with a straightforward 6-2 in the second set.
Meanwhile, in another match on the same day, Bianca Andreescu faced off against fellow wild card entry Federica Urgesi. Andreescu, a former world number four, showcased her experience and skill, defeating Urgesi convincingly with a score of 6-0, 6-3. The young Italian player, who was making her debut in a major tournament, struggled to find her rhythm and only managed to collect 10 points in the first set.
Urgesi started the second set with a break in favor of Andreescu, but she fought back to keep the match competitive. Although she had her chances, the gap in experience was evident. Andreescu, looking to regain her form after a series of injuries, played aggressively and capitalized on Urgesi's errors.
Despite the setbacks, Urgesi showed determination and spirit, even managing to save a match point with a well-placed ace. However, her efforts were not enough, as Andreescu eventually closed out the match, setting up a second-round encounter against Donna Vekic.
The Internazionali d'Italia continues to be a platform for both established players and rising stars, with many eyes now turning to the next matches in this prestigious tournament. Fans will be eager to see how Andreescu fares against Vekic and whether Stefanini can bounce back from this early exit in future competitions.
