WTA Rome semi-finals preview: Williams and Errani headed for finals showdown

Serena Williams celebrates a point against Carla Suarez Navarro in their quarterfinal of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2013 at the Foro Italico Tennis Centre on May 17, 2013 in Rome, Italy. (Getty Images)

The French Open is just a little more than a week away and it seems like three women have emerged as the clear favourites to do well in Paris – world no. 1 Serena Williams, world no. 2 Maria Sharapova and the new world no. 5 Sara Errani.

While Sharapova pulled out in Rome on Friday due to a bad cold, Willaims and Errani are still alive at the Italian Open and look to be headed for a clash in the finals on Sunday. Here is our preview of the women’s semi-finals at the Foro Italico.

Serena Williams (1) vs. Simona Halep – H2H Williams leads 1-0

The top-ranked Serena Williams is now on a 22-match winning streak – the best in her career and looks set to add another title this week. But Serena may want to consider that she went undefeated on clay last year heading into the French Open and lost in the first round. She won 3 back to back titles heading into the Australian Open and lost in the quarters there. The two slams she did win last year were on the back of losses. Serena won Wimbledon after her loss in Paris and then won the US Open after a loss to Angelique Kerber in Cincinnati. So a loss in Rome may not be such a bad deal in the larger scheme of things.

Her opponent in Saturday’s semi-final is the 5ft 6 in Simona Halep of Romania, who is best known yet for her decision to go under the knife for breast reduction surgery a few years ago in order to improve her chances to make it big (pun intended) in the tennis world. Halep maybe currently ranked only no. 64 but she has been as high as no. 37 just 12 months ago and was a junior French Open champion in 2009. After their only meeting at Wimbledon a couple of years ago, Halep left even Serena impressed with her game and her serve as the American commented, “Usually players of that height don’t serve as well – she has so much power on her serve, that’s actually really awesome.”

The Romanian was only 8-10 coming into this week but is having the best run of her career, with wins over Daniela Hantuchova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Roberta Vinci and Jelena Jankovic in Rome. But will she have more firepower to derail the Serena express? Nope. Unless Serena helps her, that is.

Prediction – Serena Williams in straight sets

Sara Errani celebrates a point against Maria Kirilenko in their third round match of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2013 at the Foro Italico Tennis Centre on May 16, 2013 in Rome, Italy. (Getty Images)

Victoria Azarenka (3) vs. Sara Errani (6) – H2H Azarenka leads 5-1

After starting the year with a 17-match winning streak (amidst some retirements and withdrawals as well), world no. 3 Victoria Azarenka seemed to be sidestepped in run-up to Paris. The Belarusian injured her ankle in March at the Indian Wells event and returned only 8 weeks later in Madrid, where she lost her second match. Needing some match fitness and confidence, Azarenka has done well to reach the semis in Rome, which includes three set wins over Julia Georges and Samantha Stosur.

But her opponent in the semi-finals is playing some of the best tennis of her career and will be backed by a wildly cheering home crowd on Saturday. Sara Errani has become the toast of Italy with her results over the past 12 months. Errani will move to a career-high ranking of no. 5 next week and is also the current world no. 1 doubles player with good friend and fellow Italian Roberta Vinci.

Errani’s path to the semis, the first Italian woman to reach this stage since 1986, has been a bit easier. Her quarter final opponent, the world no. 2 Sharapova, withdrew due to illness and her third round opponent Ayumi Morita retired in the second set of their match due to injury. The Italian plays a steady game and Azarenka will need to keep that temper of hers in check in front of the passionate Italian fans. The Belarusian may have a 5-1 lead in head to head over Errani. But with the motivation of winning before her home fans, no one will be surprised if Errani pulls off another upset on Saturday.

Prediction – Sara Errani to win in 3 sets