Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka, the world's second-ranked tennis player, has expressed her deep affection for the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, describing it as her "dream" tournament. Sabalenka's love for Rome extends beyond the tennis court, as she relishes the city's vibrant atmosphere, delectable cuisine, and picturesque streets.Despite her success at other clay-court tournaments, including two Mutua Madrid Open titles and three consecutive Porsche Tennis Grand Prix finals, Sabalenka has faced challenges at the Foro Italico. However, her determination to conquer Rome remains unwavering."Every time I was losing here, I was so sad," Sabalenka confessed. "I felt like I lost on the Grand Slam because it was one of the dream tournaments for me to win. It's still one of my dream tournaments."In her pursuit of the elusive Rome title, Sabalenka has made a significant sacrifice: she has sworn off sugar for the duration of the tournament. This means no indulging in Rome's famous gelato, a temptation she finds particularly difficult to resist."Stracciatella, pistachio, vanilla. I would go for all them, like a big bowl of gelatos. Dream snack," Sabalenka said with a laugh.Despite her dietary restrictions, Sabalenka has found solace in Rome's savory culinary delights. Her favorite pasta dishes include truffle carbonara and spicy red pasta with meat."Every pasta is my favorite here!" she exclaimed.Sabalenka's next challenge in her quest for the Rome trophy will be either two-time champion Elina Svitolina or No. 23 seed Anna Kalinskaya. With four wins standing between her and her dream, Sabalenka remains focused and determined to make her Roman dream a reality.

Rafael Nadal, the legendary Spanish tennis player, has made a remarkable comeback at the Internazional BNL d'Italia in Rome. After losing the first set to Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs, Nadal rallied back to win the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. This victory marks Nadal's 70th win in Rome and sets up an intriguing second-round clash with No. 7 seed Hubert Hurkacz.Nadal, who has never lost two consecutive matches on clay, started the match slowly but gradually found his rhythm. The 10-time champion delighted the Campo Centrale crowd with his trademark shots, including a stunning stop-drop-and-roll point in the third set.Despite his recent injury struggles, Nadal has shown flashes of his best form this season. He reached the fourth round of the Mutua Madrid Open and spoke optimistically about his progress ahead of the Rome tournament.Bergs, ranked 103rd in the ATP rankings, played well above his ranking, winning the first set with strong serving and aggressive play. However, Nadal's experience and resilience proved too much for the Belgian qualifier.In the second set, Nadal held off Bergs' attempts to break back and forced a third set. The decider was a tense affair, with Bergs fighting back from a double-break deficit to level the score at 4-4.Nadal's determination and fighting spirit shone through as he reeled off the next five points to hold serve and then broke Bergs again to take the match.Nadal's victory in Rome is a testament to his enduring greatness and his ability to overcome adversity. He will now face Hurkacz in the second round, a player who has been in impressive form this season.