Italian qualifier Romina Oprandi has played some remarkable tennis this week at the Internazionali d’Italia, but her Cinderella run finally came to an end this afternoon. She was ousted by Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova in three close sets 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(4) after over two and a half hours of match play.
Oprandi, who entered the tournament as a qualifier, had only made it into the main draw of a Sony Ericsson WTA tournament once before at the Tier IV Palermo tournament in 2005, but she lost there in straight sets to Catalina Castano in the opening round. You would never have known she was a relative newcomer this week as she blitzed her way past Kristina Brandi, Samantha Stosur, and Vera Zvonareva – after playing through the qualifying event.
She is currently ranked outside the top 100 at No. 133, but her ranking is set to take a huge leap on Monday after her quarterfinal finish at this Tier I event.
Kuznetsova will face Dinara Safina tomorrow in the semifinal round. They are tied 2-2 in career meetings.
Photograph of Romina Oprandi used with permission, courtesy of Antonio Costantinni and the Internazionali d”Italia.
