the kazakh Elena Rybakina was able to tame this Friday, in just over an hour and a half, the Latvian Jelena Ostapenko in two sets, 6-2 and 6-4, in the semifinals of the WTA 1,000 in Rome where the Ukrainian will be measured Angelina Kalina Eventually.
Rome has a final in the women’s draw. The drop of Polish Iga Swiateknumber one on the circuit, due to discomfort in his right thigh, left open the possibility of another win after two editions dominated by the best tennis player on the current circuit.
Rybakina, number 6 on the circuit, started as favorite in said final, which was surely the tennis player that Swiatek had to retire, in a very even match where the Kazakh put the Pole on the ropes.
This Friday, Rybakina faced a fired-up Ostapenko in Rome, eliminating the Spaniard Paula Badosa in a match reminiscent of his game in 2017, when he was proclaimed Roland Garros champion.
However, the Latvian, number 20, was helpless against a Rybakina who insisted on her favorite mark and once again showed the good tennis she has been doing in this tournament – the one she could not show in Madrid when she fell to second. round- and during which he reached his fourth final so far in 2023, the third in a tournament of this category.
The Kazakh ran over his rival in a first set where he led with a ‘break’ in the first game where he marked the territory. Another break in the fifth game earned him the spot, thanks to his serve in the last, four away (5-1) before having three set balls to put victory on track.
In the second round, Ostapenko did not want to be less and reacted with another ‘break’ that put the bet in her favor (3-0), but the delay of the game due to rain stopped her good moment. and Rybakina knew how to take advantage of it to level the game. in four games with a break that ended with the Latvian sinking, giving up another serve and surrendering these semifinals of this WTA 1,000 in Rome.
Rybakina and Kalininanumber 47 and that ended in Russian Veronika Kudermetova (12) in the other semifinal, they will fight for the gimped this Saturday in the central court of the Foro Itálico, not before 7:00 pm
Source: La Verdad
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