Iga Swiatek reached her first Rome final with a 7-6(3) 6-3 win over Coco Gauff.
The Pole made her first WTA1000 final after completing her second win of the day in convincing fashion.
Swiatek will now play Karolina Pliskova in tomorrow’s final after she beat Petra Martic in the first semi-final.
The first set set the standard for the match with ridiculous shot-making from the off as both players settled into the match quickly.
It was Swiatek though who grabbed the first break of the match as she forced some unforced errors out of the young American.
Gauff’s hard hitting and athleticism meant that she was far from out of the match as she managed to hit several winners and punch holes through the Pole’s game.
Eventually the 17 year-old managed to break back as the Roland Garros champion’s power had decreased and more unforced errors crept into her game.
However in the first set the Pole won five of her six service games when she was down in the game and that mental advantage in pressure points was crucial as she ensured that the first set was heading towards a tiebreak.
More solid play from the Pole and better tactical play ensured that Gauff hit a flurry of unforced errors and Swiatek won seven of the ten points available to take the opening set in 1 hour.
In the second set, Swiatek’s confidence was on full show with an improvised forward tweener and efficient serves put the American under really pressure.
Inevitably the pressure told as a double fault handed the world number 15 the crucial break for a 3-1 lead.
If that was impressive then, the hold after was even more impressive as the Pole withstood some ferocious firepower especially from the backhand side to save two break points and consolidate the break.
Swiatek produced another break as her all-round consistency was too solid for Gauff’s power and ferociousness in the fore court.
The Pole produced some late jitters as Gauff did well to apply pressure on the Roland Garros champion, a double fault while serving for the match handed the American a lifeline.
However it was only a lifeline as Swiatek completed victory to move into her first WTA 1000 final.
It was a confident performance as she moves into the final in what is ideal preparation for her Roland Garros title defence.
She will now play Karolina Pliskova in tomorrow’s final after the Czech Republican reached her third consecutive Rome final with a 6-1 2-6 6-3 win over Petra Martic.
