In a match-up between two Grand Slam winners, reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina dominated former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4 to reach the final of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
In a dominant display, Rybakina quickly gained a commanding double break advantage, reaching a comfortable 5-1 lead. The seventh seed sealed the deal with remarkable efficiency, converting her fourth set point during an intense service game that extended over five minutes.
The 20th-seeded Ostapenko surged ahead with an impressive 3-0 lead in the second set. However, as the rain gradually intensified, the match had to be temporarily suspended with Ostapenko holding a 4-2 advantage. After the rain delay, momentum shifted, and Rybakina managed to win all the subsequent games. Unfortunately for Ostapenko, this loss marked her eighth consecutive defeat when losing the first set in 2023, further extending her negative record.
Following her exceptional performance in Rome, Rybakina is poised to make her debut in the Top 5 rankings. As she advances to the final, she is undoubtedly considered the favorite against the thirtieth-seeded Anhelina Kalinina from Ukraine. Kalinina secured her spot in the final by defeating Veronika Kudermetova in the semifinals earlier on Friday.
