Svitolina upsets Halep to win Italian Open

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, World No.11, on Sunday rallied to beat Romania's Simona Halep 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the Italian Open tennis tournament final here.

Halep was slowed by an ankle injury in the third set and was unable to put up much of a fight, reports Efe.

Svitolina is having a career year, adding the Italian Open championship to her titles in Istanbul, Taipei and Dubai.

The 22-year-old Ukrainian has won four titles and 31 matches this season, putting her at the top of the list in both categories.

Halep, who was coming off her win at the Madrid Open, had won 26 of her last 30 matches.

Svitolina had never advanced past the second round in Rome and was the undisputed underdog in the match.

The Ukrainian advanced to the championship match when Spain's Garbiñe Muguruza retired Saturday from their semifinal with a neck injury while trailing 1-4 in the first set.

Svitolina will break into the top 10 when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday.

--IANS

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