Sabalenka cruises through to the last four in Rome, dismantling Ostapenko in straight sets! © Twitter (@marioboc17)
The Italian Open is heating up, with some dominant performances and a historic first setting the stage for thrilling semi-final clashes.
World number two Aryna Sabalenka was on a mission in her quarter-final clash against Jelena Ostapenko. The Belarusian dispatched the Latvian in straight sets (6-2, 6-4) in a dominant display that took just over an hour. This sets up a mouthwatering semi-final against Danielle Collins, the American who’s been on a tear herself, winning 19 of her last 20 matches. Their last game, in the Madrid Open, saw Sabalenka claim victory. Can Collins turn the tables in Rome?
On the other side of the draw, Iga Swiatek, the world number one, seeks revenge against Coco Gauff. It is a rematch of the dramatic Madrid Open final, which Swiatek won in impressive fashion. Gauff, hungry for a major title, will be looking to upset the top seed and reach her first-ever clay-court final. This clash between the top three ranked players in the world is a historic first for a WTA 250+ event, highlighting the sheer talent on display at the Italian Open.
The men’s side isn’t short on excitement either. Alexander Zverev, the highest-ranked player remaining, secured his place in the semi-finals with a straightforward victory over American Taylor Fritz. Despite a scare from an early fall, Zverev showed his dominance, winning in straight sets (6-4, 6-3). His opponent will be Alejandro Tabilo, the Chilean who shocked the world by knocking out Novak Djokovic in the third round. This is Tabilo’s first ever Masters 1000 semi-final, making history for himself and Chilean tennis.
Other Notes
- Former world number one Simona Halep’s return to clay was short-lived as she retired injured during her first-round match at the Trophee Clarins Challenger Event in Paris.
- Victoria Azarenka’s impressive run came to an end at the hands of a resurgent Danielle Collins.
With exciting semi-final matchups on both sides, the Italian Open promises a thrilling conclusion. Will Sabalenka continue her dominance, or can Collins pull off an upset? Can Swiatek maintain her reign, or will Gauff take home her first big win on clay? And will Zverev continue his flawless run, or will Tabilo write his name in the history books? Stay tuned for the answers as the Italian Open reaches its climax!
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