Australian Open champ Aryna Sabalenka has had little trouble defeating Latvian ninth seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4 to reach the Italian Open semi-finals.
Sabalenka has never won the Italian Open but she had the majority of the support on Centre Court, where the crowd rose to congratulate the Belarusian’s triumph which took little over an hour to complete.
“I would definitely say that it was the best performance of the tournament. I’m super happy that I was able to play without pain today and hopefully with every day I will feel better and better, and I will recover as good as I can for the next match.
“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.
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.
World No.2 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.
Sabalenka awaits the winner of Wednesday’s other quarter-final between Belarusian 24th seed Victoria Azarenka and American 13th seed Danielle Collins.