Konta makes light work of Begu to reach third round

Johanna Konta began her clay-court season in emphatic style as she progressed through to the third round of the Italian Open.

The British No 1 dropped just four games as she dispatched Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-0 6-4.

It was Konta’s first match since her second-round defeat at the US Open a fortnight ago and will give her hope she can do better at the next grand slam, the French Open, which starts next week.

Konta reached the semi-final at Roland Garros last year and will be happy with her start on clay here as she demolished the Romanian.

The first set was a bagel, completed in just 30 minutes, with Konta completely hitting her opponent off the court.

It looked like being a similarly one-sided affair in the second set as Konta raced into a 4-1 lead but Begu did finally put up some resistance.

The Brit saw it through, though, to set up a last-16 tie with former French Open champion Garbine Muguruza.

Victoria Azarenka’s brilliant run of form continued as she embarrassed Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.

Azarenka followed up a victory over Venus Williams with a stunning 6-0 6-0 win over Kenin.

A host of big names crashed out of the men’s competition as the underdogs had their day.

US Open quarter-finalist Andrey Rublev, former grand slam finalists Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori and seventh seed Fabio Fognini and world number nine Gael Monfils were all sent packing.

Twelfth seed Denis Shapovalov did make it through to the last 16, however, beating Pedro Martinez 6-4 6-4.

Rublev was beaten 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 6-2 by Hubert Hurkacz while Raonic went out to Dusan Lajovic in three sets.

Nishikori, on his way back from injury and suffering from coronavirus, was beaten by 18-year-old Lorenzo Musetti.

Home favourite Fabio Fognini was beaten by France’s Ugo Humbert 7-5 7-6 (7-4) and Monfils, playing his first match since February, lost in straight sets to Dominick Koepfer.

Johanna Konta is through to the Italian Open third round.