A win for Aryna Sabalenka this afternoon at the Italian Open means that something very rare has happened in a WTA event.
The Belarussian came through emphatically against number nine seed Jelena Ostapenka.
The Latvian looked out of sorts losing 2-6, 4-6 and she has some work to do ahead of the French Open later this month.
Sabalenka won the first major of the year and she will want to warm up for the second in style by winning in Rome.
Her win today means that something pretty unusual has taken place and it’s quite strange that it’s taken so long to happen again.
Aryna Sabalenka win means something has happened for first time in 11 years
This is quite remarkable and it’s hard to believe that it’s taken this long for the feat to be achieved once again.
As Relevant Tennis points out on X, Sabalenka’s win means the top three women in the world have no reached the final four of a WTA event for the first time in 11 years.
Sabalenka joints Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff in the last four. She will play either world number 24 Victoria Azarenka or number 13, Danielle Collins.
You have to go back to 2013 and the French Open for the last time that the top three women players in the world reached the last four.
On that occasion, Azarenka was joined by Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova with the American going on to scoop the title.
Top three in good form bodes well for Roland Garros
As astonishing as this is, it does actually bode well for the French Open that is now just around the corner.
Another Grand Slam will be in the sights of the three players who have all ticked off their maiden crown at a major.
Sabalenka has won twice in Australia, Swiatek has won three French Open crowns as a US Open, whilst Gauff has won the US Open.
For Sabalenka and Gauff, the challenge will be to knock Swiatek off of her perch.
She has won three of the last four French Open titles including the last two and will likely be the one to beat this year.
In the short term, the three will be transfixed on winning in Rome.
However, the aim is to be as ready as possible for the Roland Garros spectacle and hopefully, the three best in the world can stay fit and bang in form.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
