Kalinina powers into first career WTA 1000 final in Rome

ROME: No.30 seed Anhelina Kalinina grinded into the first WTA 1000 final of her career at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, outlasting No.11 seed Veronika Kudermetova 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 in their semifinal meeting on Friday. Ukraine's Kalinina needed 2 hours and 50 minutes to edge ahead 2-1 in her head-to-head with Kudermetova and collect her second Top 20 victory in a row. Kalinina won the longest match of this season over Beatriz Haddad Maia in the previous round.

Kalinina is now a win away from the first Hologic WTA Tour title of her career. She will meet a Top 20 player for the third consecutive match when she faces either reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina or former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko in Saturday’s final. Agencies

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