Sara Errani ended the country’s 29-year wait for a female finalist at the Premier Mandatory Italian Open in Rome this week after she defeated former world number one Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 7-5 on Saturday. Up next for Italy’s number one player is world number one Serena Williams.
Errani has made significant wins this week, including her first career victory over China’s Li Na in the quarterfinals. She was at her element against Jankovic, cruising in the first set 6-3.
A second set wobble did not deter the Italian from fighting back and she would go on to close out the match in less than two hours to the delight of the sold-out crowd.
“I just tried to keep focused on my game and what I had to do,” Errani said. “The motivation was the crowd. They were unbelievable and I have no words to say what it is like to play on this court with this support. Amazing!”
Errani has yet to win a match against Williams and their most recent meeting, at the 2013 French Open, Errani could only muster one game in her loss against the American.
