Rennae Stubbs, the ex-coach of former world number one
Serena Williams, has criticised the schedule of the Rome Open. The WTA and ATP 1000 events are approaching their conclusion, and the remaining players are giving
their all to secure the ultimate prize.
The final lineup in the women’s singles category has been completed. Italy’s Jasmine Paolini will face America’s
Coco Gauff on Saturday. The second semifinal in the women’s singles category featured the one-time Grand Slam winner, who came out on top against China’s
Zheng Qinwen in a hard-fought
contest with a score of 7-6, 4-6, 7-6.
The match lasted more than three hours and finished after midnight. That prompted Stubbs, the ex-coach of former world number one Serena, to criticise the schedule of the Rome Open. The 54-year-old stated that no semifinal should finish past midnight. "No semifinal should be at midnight! Imagine if Sinner had been a long match!" Stubbs wrote in a post on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.
Gauff, talking after the match, admitted that it was a very
difficult contest against a top player in challenging conditions but stated
that she was ecstatic with the result. "I was just trying to go for every
point," she said. "I knew before it was going to be a physical match.
Last time we played was over three hours. Overall I'm just happy. Wasn't my
best level at all, to be honest. Just happy to get through it and through to
another final. The whole match for me the court was so slow," Gauff said.
"Especially when the ball after like two games, they're so heavy. This was
my second night match. My first one was first round. I was playing someone
completely different game style. Yeah, it was tough. I think we're both
struggling trying to hit through each other. I think in Riyadh we had a little
bit more winners, aggressiveness. Today we were trying, but the ball wasn't
going anywhere."