Very first Master Class in Minsk
25.07.2020
Aliaksandra Sasnovich showed signs of her best on route to a decisive 6-0, 6-2 victory over an in-form Jasmine Paolini to reach the quarterfinals at the 31st Palermo Ladies Open.
“I played very well in the first set because I knew how to play against my opponent,” she said during her on-court interview. “I’ve seen a few matches of hers, and she’s a really great player. I think the Italian public really likes her, and I like her, too, because I like how she plays!”
Sasnovich last made the last eight of a WTA tournament in 2019, when she kicked off the season by roaring into the Sydney International semifinals as a qualifier. Falling out of the Top 100 before the tours were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Belarusian is ready to make her way back up the rankings after an 72 minute victory on Center Court. She has already won 5 matches and does not want to stop on it.
Sasha has not lost a set in her 5 matches in Palermo. That’s her road to QF in Palermo:
Q1. Win over Komardina (201 WTA) 7-5, 6-2
Q2. Win over Martincova (133 WTA) 6-3, RT
Q3. Win over Arruabarrena (154 WTA) 7-5, 7-6 (7-2)
R1. Win over Mertens (23 WTA) 6-4, 6-1
R2. Win over Paolini (95 WTA) 6-0, 6-2
“It’s like I’m just waking up!” Sasnovich joked. “I’m ready. I have good fitness. I did a really great 20 weeks of fitness, so it’s enough for me to play this tournament.”
Sasha will next play either top seed Petra Martic or fellow qualifier Liudmilla Samsonova, who will face off on Thursday.