Sabalenka Slays Ostapenko, Ruling Collins Into Italian Open Semi-Final

World number two Aryna Sabalenka (26) easily defeated Latvian ninth seed Jelena Ostapenko (26) with a score of 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the Italian Open semi-finals on Wednesday. There, she will face American 13th seed Danielle Collins (30).

Although Sabalenka has yet to win the Italian Open, she enjoyed strong support from the crowd at Centre Court. The audience rose to applaud the Belarusian, who secured her victory in just over an hour.

“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’m getting from you guys and hopefully I give it back to you, I love you Rome.”

Ostapenko saved two break points in the opening game, but Sabalenka broke her serve on the next two opportunities, taking a 4-1 lead. Although Ostapenko held her next service game to love, she couldn’t stop Sabalenka’s progress.

Tennis Result

Sabalenka needed just one break of serve to take the second set and secure the victory, with Ostapenko unable to create a single break point during the match.

The Australian Open champion will face Collins for a place in the final on Thursday, after the American defeated Belarusian 24th seed Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-3 in Wednesday’s other quarter-final.

Former world number one Azarenka broke serve in the first game, but Collins fought back to take a 5-2 lead. Momentum briefly shifted in Azarenka’s favor, but Collins won an intense first set and then surged to a 4-1 lead in the second, reaching her first Rome semi-final.