Jelena Ostapenko reached the semifinals of the Italian Open in Rome for the first time after holding off a mid-match surge from Paula Badosa to claim a 6-2 4-6 6-3 victory.
Dazzling Performance ??@JelenaOstapenk8 sends herself into the semifinals in Rome after outlasting Badosa in 3 sets!#IBI23 pic.twitter.com/c3r9P3Zbbr
— wta (@WTA) May 17, 2023
Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open winner, will face seventh seed Elena Rybakina for a spot in the final after world No 1 Iga Swiatek retired from their semifinal with an injury.
The two-time defending champion requested a medical timeout after Rybakina came from behind to take the second set in a tiebreak and the Polish top seed, who returned with her leg taped up, withdrew with the third set level at 2-2.