Aryna Sabalenka and Danielle Collins set up a semi-final showdown at the Italian Open with wins over Jelena Ostapenko and Victoria Azarenka respectively.
World No 2 Sabalenka defeated ninth seed Ostapenko 6-2 6-4 in Rome before 13th seed Collins saw off former world No 1 Azarenka 6-4 6-3
Collins and Sabalenka will contest the second semi-final on Thursday, after world No 1 Iga Swiatek – champion in 2021 and 2022 – plays third seed Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka savours atmosphere as Collins continues superb run
After completing victory over Ostapenko in a little more than an hour, Sabalenka said: “With this amazing atmosphere, this amazing support, that’s why I’m super-motivated here.
“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 managed to save two break points in the opening game, but Sabalenka broke at the next two opportunities to lead 4-1, and although the Latvian held her next service game to love, she was unable to halt Sabalenka’s march.
Sabalenka needed only one break of serve, making it 4-3, to take the second set and the victory, with Ostapenko unable to force a single break point over the course of the match.
Collins, who said in January that this would be her last year on the WTA Tour before retirement, has won 19 of her last 20 matches, with her only defeat coming against Sabalenka in the fourth round of the Madrid Open.
Azarenka broke Collins’ serve in the first game of their quarter-final but the American rallied to take a 5-2 lead, while she waltzed into a 4-1 advantage in the second set before clinching the win.
Zverev and Tabilo to meet in men’s semis
On the men’s side, third seed and 2017 winner Alexander Zverev recovered from a nasty fall which left him with grazes on his hands and elbow to defeat American Taylor Fritz 6-4 6-3 in the quarter-finals.
Zverev will now play Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo on Friday after the latter reached his first Masters semi-final with a 6-3 6-4 win over Zhang Zhizhen of China.
Tabilo’s compatriot Nicolas Jarry will look to make it two Chileans in the last four when he meets sixth seed and 2022 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
The other last-eight contest pits Hubert Hurkacz against Tommy Paul.
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?
In the run-up to the second Grand Slam of 2024 – the French Open at Roland Garros from May 26 – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the clay-court season.
- Geneva Open (ATP 250) – May 20-26
- Lyon Open (ATP 250) – May 20-26
- Internationaux de Strasbourg (WTA 500) – May 20-26
- Morocco Open (WTA 250) – May 20-26
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