Maria Sharapova advances to final in 2018 Rome open

ROME, Italy
Simona Halep needed to come back from a set down against Maria Sharapova, but she’s through to her second straight final at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

Sharapova came into the match having spent almost four and a half times longer than Halep on court; as a result of a bye and a walkover, Halep has played two hours and 13 minutes across two straight-sets matches, while three of Sharapova’s four matches in Rome have been lengthy three-set battles, adding up to nine hours and 48 minutes played.

The fatigue showed as the match wore on, and Halep prevailed 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 after a grueling two and a half hours