The Czech Karolina Pliskova (WTA 9) and Polish Iga Swiatek (WTA 15) have qualified for the final of the WTA tournament in Rome (clay / 1,835,490 euros).
Pliskova defeated Croatian Petra Martic (WTA 25) in three sets on Saturday in the semifinals: 6-1, 3-6 and 6-2. The game lasted 1 hour and 57 minutes.
Swiatek then settled in her semi-final with the American Cori Gauff (WTA 35) in two sets: 7-6 (7/3) and 6-3. That match took 1 hour and 48 minutes. Gauff benefited in the quarterfinals on Friday from the abandonment of the Australian number 1 in the world Ashleigh Barty, who suffered from her right arm and stopped the fight. Barty had won the first set at that moment and was leading 2-1 in the second set. Swiatek had to hit the track earlier Saturday for her quarter final against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (WTA 6), who was postponed by rain on Friday-evening. The Polish defeated Svitolina 6-2 and 7-5.
29-year-old Pliskova already won the Rome tournament in 2019. She has 16 titles on her record so far, but is still hunting for her first trophy of 2021. 19-year-old Swiatek has two titles. She won in Adelaide this year and triumphed at Roland Garros in 2020.
Simona Halep (WTA 3), defending champion in Rome and too strong for Pliskova in the final last year, had to withdraw in the second round on Wednesday with an injury to the left calf.
