a Rogers-Kasatkina final in San Jose

Shelby Rogers, 45th player in the world, has qualified for the final of the hard court tournament in San Jose (California) where her opponent will be Daria Kasatkina (12th), who surprised the favorite Paula Badosa (4th). The 28-year-old American, who beat Russian Veronika Kudermetova (19th) 6-3, 6-4, will try to win her first WTA title on Sunday.

Rogers, who will play the third final of her career – hoping to do better than in Bad Gastein in Austria in 2014 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016 – was very solid to get the better of Kudermetova. She took the lead from the start, delighting the service of the Russian, who could not restore the situation in the first set, conceded on a second break conceded to Rogers.

Kudermetova was more enterprising in the second set, managing to take the opponent’s serve twice, but the American came back high each time to equalize at 2-2 then at 4-4, before scoring a 5th break at 5-4 synonymous with victory, in 1h20.

Rogers will face another Russian on Sunday, as Daria Kasatkina edged out Paula Badosa 6-2, 6-4. Much more in legs and solid in the exchanges, committing fewer faults, the 12th player in the world, in search of a fifth title which would be her first this year, easily pocketed the first set, without giving the slightest break point to her opponent.

Badosa, after the intervention of a physiotherapist between the two sets, regained some energy. But her serve betrayed her and after breaking twice, she conceded a third time at 5-4. Kasatkina did not tremble to conclude, on her first opportunity, in 1h23.