Safina and Kuznetsova in Rome Final
May 9, 2009 by Julie Bonner
Filed under Tennis
The Italian Open finals is all Russian. Dinara Safina will play Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final after both players defeated their opponents on Friday. Safina rallied to beat Venus Williams 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, while Kuznetsova defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-4.
Both Safina and Kuznetsova have been runners up in the finals at Rome, but have never taken the title.
The match between Safina and Williams lasted for 3 hours and 10 minutes! “She pushed me to play my best,” Safina said. “Sometimes you need this kind of match … It gives me a lot of confidence to beat such a big player like her, such a champion.”
Williams, who is currently number 5, will jump to number 3 by reaching the Rome semi-finals. This is her highest ranking in 6 years. Williams isn’t really concerned with the ranking, it’s the titles she concentrates on.
“The ranking will come when it comes. I like to keep my titles and have my trophies at home,” she said.
Stay tuned for results from the Women’s Italian Open, which takes place today (May 9).
Image Credit: Newscom
