Halep and Svitolina to meet in Rome final

Simona Halep came from a set down to defeat Maria Sharapova and set up a repeat of last year’s Italian Open against Elina Svitolina in Rome.

Sharapova produced her best week since defeating Halep on her way to the fourth round of the 2017 US Open, and again seriously troubled the world No.1.

But her epic victory over French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarterfinals must have taken its toll and, after Sharapova won the first set, Halep fought back to triumph 4-6 6-1 6-4.

Déjà vu!@Simona_Halep sets up a rematch of last year's @InteBNLdItalia final vs. Svitolina with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over Sharapova! pic.twitter.com/4EQCbVAeBu

— WTA (@WTA) May 19, 2018

Sharapova’s New York win was her seventh from seven meetings with Halep. The Romanian did break her duck in Beijing last October but clearly does not feel comfortable against the Russian and did not hold serve at all in the opening set.

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She was much more solid in the second while the third again featured numerous breaks of serve, but it was Halep who claimed the crucial one in the final game.

The Romanian will now hope to reverse the result 12 months ago when a twisted ankle hampered her in a three-set loss to Svitolina, who was a 6-4 6-3 winner over Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit on Saturday.

The world No.4 has so far been unable to match her results on the WTA Tour at Grand Slam level but should be a real threat at the French Open, where she should have beaten Halep in the quarter-finals last summer.

“It’s always tough to play against her and it was tough to return the balls but I was confident that I had enough power to win the match,” Halep said.

“Svitolina is a very tough opponent.

“I just have to be at my best to win the match. I will be aggressive, I will do my game and we will see what will happen. I will be confident.”