 Alina Rabakina vs. Annalena Kalanina is a final for the Rome Open for 2023. And both players are surprised to get to this stage. Kalanina started the tournament off as the 30th seed and we're going to buy in the first round. In the second round she'll take on Blinkova. There's no problem for Kalanina getting through in straight sets. 6-2, 6-2. In the third round she'll take on Sofia Kenan, who had just demolished the number two seed Sabalenka in the previous round. There's no problem for Kalanina getting through in straight sets. 6-4, 6-2. In the fourth round she'll take on Madison Keyes, who had been given a walk over victory against Azarenka in the previous round. And after dropping the first set, Kalanina would fight back, getting through in three, two, six, six, two, six, four to advance to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, Kalanina would take on the number 12 seed Hadajmaia, which she'd played three times previously. And this match was brutal. After losing the first set, she'd have to come back to win in a three hour and 45 minute match, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinals, Kalanina would take on the number 11 seed Kudamatova, who was starting to get some form on the clay. But after a long first couple of sets, Kalanina would get through in three, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 to advance to the final. Back in the start of the tournament off as the number seven seed, and we'll get a buy in the first round. In the second round she'd take on Parleni, and after a close first set, we'll get through in straights, 7-6, 6-1. In the third round she'd take on Kalanskaya, who had taken her out in Madrid only a couple of weeks ago. But unfortunately Kalanskaya got injured, and was unable to finish the match. And we're back in a leading 4-3 retirement. In the fourth round she'd take on Vondrusava, who had taken out Zachary in the previous round. And this was so far Rabakina's best performance, getting through in straights, 6-3, 6-3 to get to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, Rabakina would take on the number one seed, Svjontek, who she'd beaten twice already this year. But this was their first clay court meeting, and after splitting the first two sets, Svjontek unfortunately got injured, and would have to retire in the third, with Rabakina winning 2-6, 7-6, 2-0 retirement. In the semifinals, Rabakina would take on the number 20 seed, Oster Penko, who'd been beating up players all week. But in a rain-effective match, it was Rabakina who held her cool, getting through in straights, 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the final. These two have only played the one time before. That was actually last year on a clay court in Charleston, and surprisingly enough, Kalanina got the win. So she can use that confidence going into this match, knowing she's already beaten this lady before. Kalanina's going to win this one. She's going to have to get everything back and use that grit that has gotten through her last two matches. The last two matches she played, have both been three hours or more. She's going to have to use that again against Rabakina. Rabakina's going to win this one. She needs to get that serve working. I guess for Yontek, the serve wasn't working great, but against Oster Penko, it was on point, and it really made a difference. So she needs to serve well, and she needs to hit big ground, so it's like she does usually. This is going to be such a fun match. It's great to see Rabakina doing so well on clay and really putting her hand up as a clay court, French open contender. But Kalanina, very big surprise here, but I think it's going to be Rabakina getting through and winning the trophy in three sets. I think Kalanina could maybe win the first set, sneak it out, but I think it's going to be Rabakina winning another big trophy this year, but let me know down in the comments below who needs to win this one.