World No. 1 Swiatek of Poland, who is hoping to win the title in Rome for a third time, easily defeated American Bernarda Pera 6-0, 6-2 in one hour and seventeen minutes.
In one hour and twenty-eight minutes, American Gauff defeated Magdalena Frech of Poland, 6-3, 6-3.
Japan’s Osaka defeated the 20th-ranked Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-3, 6-2.
Osaka’s first career victory on clay against a top-20 player came from the easy, rain-interrupted triumph that took place in one hour and eleven minutes.
In the third round, she will play world No. 11 Daria Kasatkina.
She has far more experience on clay than I do, and I know that going into this match,” Osaka remarked. “I feel like I’m still a young giraffe, still figuring things out.
I’m just incredibly modest. My goal is to take what I learned from today’s competition and perhaps put it to use.
