Palermo Ladies Open: Qinwen Zheng topples twice-past titlist Sara Errani in opener!

Qinwen Zheng stunned two-time former Palermo Ladies Open champion, Sara Errani in their first-round match in the 2023 edition of the event on Monday. The second seed from China posted a 6-0, 6-0 score against the Italian in merely 58 minutes.

Errani put in 29 of 33 first serves in but managed to win nine points of these. Zheng put in 26 of 41 first serves in but won 20 points of the 26 first serves she landed in. The 20-year-old also won all four points played on return on Errani’s second serve while winning seven of the 15 points played on her second serve. The world no. 26 saved all four break points she faced and converted six of seven break points to dominate the match until the end.

In the second round, Zheng will play France’s Diane Parry. Parry won her round-of-32 match against Italian qualifier, Aurora Zantedeschi, 6-4, 6-3.

Palermo Ladies Open: Italians struggle

The 82nd-ranked Parry needed an hour and 33 minutes to get the win. She failed to save two break points she faced while converting five break points on her opponent’s serve. She also won 72% points on return on the world no. 357’s second serve.

Meanwhile, home player Nuria Brancaccio was among the two Italians who won their opening-round matches. The 180th-ranked Brancaccio, who made her way into the main draw after coming through the qualifiers, defeated fellow qualifier, Tessah Andrianjafitrimo. Brancaccio won 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 53 minutes against the world no. 388, hailing from France.

Brancaccio will play either fellow Italian, fourth seed Elisabetta Cocciaretto or Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo next.

Camilla Rosatello was the other Italian who won on Monday. Rosatello, who received a main draw wildcard, defeated Swiss Viktorija Golubic, 6-1, 6-1 in an hour and 11 minutes. This is the world no. 158’s first win on the WTA main tour. In the second round, she will play either seventh seed Emma Navarro or qualifier Eva Vedder.

Lastly, France’s Clara Burel also advanced to the second round of the Palermo Ladies Open. Burel upset eighth seed Julia Grabher, 6-4, 7-5 in an hour and 38 minutes. This is Burel’s first win since May, since she lost in the semi-finals of the Strasbourg International to Elina Svitolina.  

Photo Credit: Palermo Ladies Open Twitter