Daria Kasatkina saved two match points to edge Yulia Putintseva in a dramatic quarterfinal at the Ningbo Open, while Japanese qualifier Aoi Ito extended her Cinderella story at the Japan Open by reaching her first-ever WTA semifinal. Here’s a look at Friday’s action in China and Japan.
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Ningbo Open (Ningbo, China)
Daria Kasatkina Saves Two Match Points to Reach Semis
No. 5 seed Daria Kasatkina of Russia pulled off a gutsy win, defeating Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (6) in a tense quarterfinal match. Despite trailing 6-4 in the third-set tiebreaker, Kasatkina fought back to save two match points and secure her spot in the semifinals.
Though the stats favored Putintseva—more winners, fewer unforced errors, and better point totals—Kasatkina delivered when it mattered most, advancing to her sixth semifinal of the year. She now faces No. 8 seed Paula Badosa of Spain, who comfortably defeated No. 6 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3, 6-2.
Other Results
- Mirra Andreeva advanced to the semifinals after Czech Barbora Krejcikova retired with Andreeva leading 7-6 (5), 3-2.
- The last semifinal spot will be decided between No. 7 seed Anna Kalinskaya and Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic.
Japan Open (Osaka, Japan)
Qualifier Aoi Ito’s Dream Run Continues
Japan’s Aoi Ito, ranked No. 188 in the world, extended her dream run at her debut WTA event with a thrilling 6-7 (8), 6-2, 6-3 victory over Germany’s Eva Lys. The 20-year-old Ito capitalized on six of her 10 break-point opportunities, securing her place in the semifinals. Ito is now just two wins away from her first WTA title.
In the semifinals, Ito will face Kimberly Birrell of Australia, who defeated Japan’s Sara Saito 7-5, 6-4. Birrell, ranked No. 150, is also seeking her first WTA Tour victory.
Other Results
- Diane Parry of France, the No. 7 seed, reached the semifinals with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 win over Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
- The Netherlands’ Suzan Lamens came from behind to defeat Romania’s Ana Bogdan 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and secure the final spot in the semis.
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Post-Match Reactions and Key Takeaways
Daria Kasatkina on Her Match-Point Saves
“It was a really tough match, and I had to dig deep to stay in it. I’m just happy to have found a way to win and to be through to another semifinal.”
Aoi Ito on Her First WTA Semifinal
“It’s been an incredible experience. To make my first WTA semifinal here in Japan feels amazing. I’m just taking it one match at a time and enjoying every moment.”
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Looking Ahead
Diane Parry and Suzan Lamens will meet in the other Japan Open semifinal, both hoping to claim their first WTA title.
Daria Kasatkina will face Paula Badosa in a high-stakes semifinal at the Ningbo Open, with both players looking to reach their first final of the year.
Aoi Ito will continue her fairytale run at the Japan Open, where she will face Kimberly Birrell in a battle of first-time WTA semifinalists.
