Sharapova fights back to beat Ostapenko in Rome

Published by AAP

Maria Sharapova is trying to win her fourth Rome title; Getty Images
Maria Sharapova enjoys one of her best recent wins with victory of Jelena Ostapaneko in Rome, while Simona Halep secures the No.1 ranking as she reaches the semifinals.

Maria Sharapova has positioned herself as a contender for Roland Garros by defeating reigning French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter-finals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.

The Russian went into last week’s Madrid Open on a four-match losing streak and ranked 52nd in the world.

However, after making the last eight in Madrid and Friday’s 6-7 (8-6) 6-4 7-5 victory over Ostapenko, she will break back into the top 30 and be seeded for the French Open, which starts on May 27.

Sharapova will face Simona Halep in the Rome semifinals after the Romanian beat seventh seed Caroline Garcia 6-2 6-3, a victory that ensures she will remain number one in the rankings next week.

Sharapova is a two-time champion at Roland Garros and getting back on the clay has helped the 31-year-old rediscover some form of old.

This was a contest between two of the biggest hitters and fiercest competitors on tour, and in the opening stages it was Ostapenko who was firmly on top.

The Latvian powered her way into a 5-2 lead and held four set points but Sharapova dug in and reeled off four games in a row, only to miss the chance to serve out the set.

Ostapenko saved a set point to take the tiebreak but could not quite maintain the same level in the second set, which Sharapova claimed to force a decider.

The Russian seemed in control at 5-2 but back came Ostapenko, a double fault costing Sharapova as she served for the match at 5-3.

She then missed two match points in the next game as Ostapenko levelled at 5-5 but Sharapova was not to be denied, taking the next two games to reach the last four.

“It’s great to back at this stage,” Sharapova said.

“My fans have been so loyal throughout the years and for me to be able to produce this kind of tennis again in front of them is very special.”

Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit knocked out world No.2 Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-1 to record her second consecutive win over a top-10 opponent.

Kontaveit, who overcame Venus Williams in the last 16, struck 23 winners and broke her Danish opponent’s serve six times to wrap up victory in just over an hour.

The defeat ended Wozniacki’s hopes of overhauling Halep at the top of the rankings next week.

The world No.26 set up a semi-final battle with defending champion Elina Svitolina, who defeated former world No.1 Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-4.

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