Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina fought from 4-1 down in the second set to overhaul Jelena Ostapenko on Friday to reach the final of the Italian Open.
The 6-2, 6-4 comeback from the Kazakh sent Rybakina into her fourth major final of the season after the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami.
Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina serves to Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko during their semifinals match of the Women's WTA Rome Open tennis tournament on May 19, 2023 at Foro Italico in Rome. (Photo: AFP)
She will bid for the trophy on Saturday against Anhelina Kalinina of the Ukraine, who reached the second WTA final of her career with a 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 defeat of Russia's Veronika Kudermetova.
Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina celebrates after defeating Russia's Veronika Kudermetova in their semifinals match of the Women's WTA Rome Open tennis tournament on May 19, 2023 at Foro Italico in Rome. (Photo: AFP)
Rybankina will need a quick turnaround after winning a rain-interrupted semi-final in just under one and three quarter hours, aided by 33 unforced errors from 2017 Roland Garros champion Ostapenko.
The second-set fightback sealed victory for Rybakina on her first match point as her opponent dumped a volley into the net.
"It was not easy at all with the starting and stopping," the winner said. "I need to recover for the final."
Everyone knows how good Anhelina is, we are also good friends - if you can say that (in tennis).
"It will be a tough match for sure. I think of course I'm more consistent, there are still a lot of things to improve.
"But I'm happy that physically I can maintain and stay in the tournament till the end.
Rybakina was pleased with her second-set turnaround.
"I didn't start that well, I was a bit low in energy. Lost my serve. So it was difficult.
"Then a few good shots from her, good serves - it changed very quickly.
"I just tried to focus on every point and got the break back and served really well after that."
