Camila Osorio survived treacherous conditions to stun fifth-seeded Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-4 in a monumental upset on Saturday in the third round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
Osorio defeated a top-5 player for the first time in her career while also reaching the round of 16 at a 1000-level event for the initial time. It is the third straight win for Osorio after going through qualifying to even become part of the main draw.
The 21-year-old Colombian saved seven of eight points while silencing Garcia in 1 hour, 43 minutes amid heavy rain.
“Beating her is unreal,” Osorio said afterward. “She’s a super-aggressive player, always trying to step into the court. Whether you’re serving or returning, you’re always feeling the pressure. I was just thinking about what I could control.
“I was going to see a lot of balls passing by, but the things I could control were moving my serve around and being really ready for the first shots. Serve and legs, return and legs, try not to go back, try to step in.”
Garcia led 4-3 in the opening set on the clay in Rome before Osorio won the final three games. In the second, the Frenchwoman led 3-2 prior to Osorio closing the match with four wins in five games.
Osorio lost the lone previous meeting against Garcia 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals in Lyon in February.
Osorio next faces another South American in 12th seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil.
Haddad Maia prevailed 7-5, 6-4 over 17th-seeded Magda Linette of Poland in two hours and nine minutes. Haddad Maia led 4-0 in the second set before having to stave off Linette’s comeback bid.
American Sofia Kenin was unable to follow up her stunning upset of No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus as she lost to No. 30 seed Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine.
Kalinina saved four of five break points during the 6-4, 6-2 victory. Kenin was hurt by five double faults.
Another American, Taylor Townsend also went down after upsetting No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula in her previous match.
China’s Wang Xiyu knocked down Townsend 6-2, 0-6, 7-5. Wang had 16 break-point opportunities, converting just five, while prevailing.
“It was a very tough match,” Wang said of playing Townsend. “She’s a really good player and she has a lot of experience. She’s lefty, too. Just tried my best and fight every point. I’m also trying to learn from her. It was good; I fought until the end.”
Wang will face countrywomen Zheng Qinwen, the No. 22 seed, for a spot in the quarterfinals. Zheng posted a 7-6 (2), 6-4 victory over Anna Bondar of Hungary.
Also, No. 11 Veronika Kudermetova recorded a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 victory over fellow Russian Anastasia Potapova, the No. 23 seed.
–Field Level Media
