After defeating 9th-seed Jelena Ostapenko, world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the Italian Open semifinals with ease. She successfully finished the game in just one hour and 13 minutes, with a performance record of 6-2 6-4.
Now, given the last four rounds of the competition, the two-time Grand Slam champion is scheduled to take on Danielle Collins, the 13th-seeded American who defeated Victoria Azarenka with a score of 6-4 6-3.
Moreover, Sabalenka might then go up against Iga Swiatek, the top seed in the world, in a possible championship match. This would be a rematch of the thrilling victory the Polish player earned in the Madrid Open final earlier this month.
Sabalenka on motivation to win
With her exceptional plays this season, Sabalenka admitted: “With this amazing atmosphere and with this amazing support – that’s why I’m super motivated here and that’s why I always say that this is the dream tournament for me to win.”
“I really enjoy playing here so I don’t have to think about being focused. I’m just here enjoying it and doing everything I can to win every point I play no matter what the score. I guess that’s the key,” she added.
Alexander Zverev, ranked third in the men’s draw, defeated American Taylor Fritz in straight sets to advance to the last four rounds. After an early fall, world number five Zverev incurred cuts to his right hand, but he bounced back to win 6-4 6-3 in an hour and twenty-nine minutes.
The athlete declared: “I’m extremely happy. Taylor has been one of the best players on clay this year… To have a win like that is great for me, especially after the fall. I still have a little bit of pain so once the adrenaline settles I’m going to check out tomorrow what it is, but I’m definitely happy with the win.”
Having not lost a set thus far in the event, he is currently ranked #1 in the tournament.
Cover Photo: IG
Source: BBC
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