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Aryna Sabalenka had little trouble beating Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Italian Open semi-finals on Wednesday.
Sabalenka, the world No.2, has never won the Italian Open, but she had most of the support on Center Court, where the crowd rose to applaud the Belarusian’s triumph over the No.9 seed, which took just over an hour to finish.
“With this amazing atmosphere, this amazing support, that’s why I’m super motivated here,” Sabalenka said. “This is the dream tournament for me to win because of these emotions I get from you guys and I hope to give it back, I love you Rome.”
Ostapenko saved two break points in the opening game, but Sabalenka broke on the next two opportunities to lead 4-1, and although the Latvian held her next game on serve, she was unable to stop Sabalenka’s march.
She needed just one break of serve to make it 4-3 to take the second set and the win, with Ostapenko failing to force a single break point throughout the match.
Sabalenka will face Danielle Collins in the last four on Thursday after the American No 13 ended the prospect of an all-Belarusian semi-final, seeing off 24th seed Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-3.
Sabalenka defeated Collins in three sets in the fourth round of the Mutua Madrid Open on 29 April. It was a rare defeat for Collins in a season where she has won 19 of her last 20 matches, winning titles at the Miami Open and Charleston Open. Earlier this year, Collins announced that this would be her last season on tour.
Thursday’s other semifinal pits world No. 1 Iga Svetek of Poland against third seed Koko Gauff.
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