San Jose (US), August 7, : In the midst of a dominant week, Shelby Rogers set up the final match with Daria Kasatkina in the Silicon Valley Classic after defeating Veronika Kudermetova, 6-3, 6-4, in the semifinal match here. This will be Rogers her first final in six years when she takes on Kasatkina on Sunday.As a finalist in San Jose last year, Kasatkina booked her spot in the Championship with the victory of 6-2, 6-4 over No .4 Paula Badosa.
The 29-year-old Rogers will be hoping to finally break through and win her first title in her career.Rogers is a big hitting American has been unstoppable all week, scoring victories against Bianca Andreescu, top seed Maria Sakkari, Amanda Anisimova and Kudermetova without losing a single set.She hasn’t dropped more than four games in every match she’s played.
The warm temperatures during the day has fed into Rogers serve.
In her four matches, she has only been broken three times.
“Amazing.
This is the kind of position you’d like to be in every week.This is the kind of thing we work towards.
As much as you give up and put in the effort it’s nice to witness the results come together.This is definitely one of the most enjoyable weeks I’ve ever experienced on tour.
That speaks volumes about the reason I’m doing so well,” Rogers said.
“I’m trying to not get too high or low.I’m just taking one at a stretch and focusing on what I can manage.My serve has been performing extremely well this week.
I feel that I’m aiming to hit every ball which is a good sensation,” she added.
On the other on the other hand, Kasatkina is also continuing her remarkable season.In her first tennis tournament after Berlin, she beat Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina as well as two Top 10 players in No.6 Aryna Sabalenka and No.4 Paula Badosa to make her the first final of the season.
The 25-year old has put together one of the most successful seasons of her career.
She been in the semifinals for back-toback times in Rome and Roland Garros and is just a victory away from making it back to the Top 10 for the first time since the year 2019.
“Playing twice in consecutive games in the finals in San Jose means it’s an important location for me,”” Kasatkina said.
As she did all this week, Kasatkina played a disciplined and controlled game to lure Badosa to let her out of the match.Kasatkina made 11 winners against 11 unforced errors.
Badosa hit 16 winners to 30 unforced mistakes.
Kasatkina was able to breeze through the first set in just 30 minutes, but was forced back from a breakdown twice in the second set to secure her fourth victory over a top 5 player this year.
Sunday’s final is a mix of styles.The head-to head is tied 1-1 with Kasatkina beating Rogers in their previous match in May in Roland Garros.
Rogers won their first meeting on a hard surface, that was in the year 2017 in Miami.
The main challenge is for Kasatkina to reduce Rogers his flat baseline power.
Kasatkina has been practicing at exactly that this week, and has earned physical victories against opponents like Sabalenka and Rybakina.Rogers has yet face with a player as skilled and disciplined as Kasatkina who is very stingy in giving away free points.
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