Fourth-seeded American Kenin pulls out a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ana Bogdan; former champion Ostapenko beats second-seeded Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-2.
With Simona Halep joined by Jelena Ostapenko and Markéta Vondroušová, this year’s Palermo Ladies Open tennis tournament will be like no other.
Paes and Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, erased a one-set deficit to edge out local wild cards entrants Storm Sanders and Marc Polmans 6-7(4) 6-3 10-6 in the opening round which lasted one hour and 27 minutes.
Despite playing three major finals, Simona Halep has yet to overcome a mental barrier which has kept her away from getting her hands on the coveted Grand Slam trophy.
Nadal, who hasn't won the Italian Open since 2013, will next face Fabio Fognini, who beat Peter Gojowczyk 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first quarterfinal in 11 appearances at his home tournament.
The 25-year old Stephens had beaten three former Grand Slam champions - Garbine Muguruza, Angelique Kerber and Victoria Azarenka - to make it to the finals of Miami Open.
Stephens' opponent in Saturday's final will be sixth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko, who beat American qualifier Danielle Collins 7-6 (1), 6-3 in the other semifinal of Miami Open.
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