Exciting quarterfinal matchups unfolded on Friday, with top seeds delivering commanding performances and thrilling battles setting the stage for intense semifinals at both the Hong Kong Tennis Open and Jiangxi Open. Here’s a quick recap of the action.
Hong Kong Tennis Open: Shnaider Survives a Three-Set Battle
World No. 1 seed Diana Shnaider of Russia fought through a grueling quarterfinal against Suzan Lamens, eventually winning 6-0, 6-7 (4), 6-2 in just under two hours. Shnaider showcased her dominance by converting nine of 11 break points, despite dropping a tightly contested second set. Her resilience paid off as she booked a semifinal spot against No. 3 seed Leylah Fernandez.
Leylah Fernandez, from Canada, had a smoother ride, firing eight aces to dispatch No. 9 Bernarda Pera 6-1, 7-6 (7). Fernandez’s aggressive serving and clutch play in the second-set tiebreaker were key to her victory, as she eyes a place in the final.
Other Semifinal Matchup: Boulter vs. Yuan
Second-seeded Katie Boulter of Great Britain impressed with a commanding 6-4, 6-0 win over Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova. Boulter needed just 75 minutes to secure her semifinal berth, breaking her opponent’s serve consistently. Boulter will face No. 6 seed Yue Yuan of China, who defeated Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-3. Yuan’s solid baseline play and consistent shot-making kept Kenin at bay.
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Jiangxi Open: Bouzkova Cruises, Golubic Endures Marathon
In Jiujiang, China, top-seeded Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic dominated No. 5 seed Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia, winning 6-2, 6-2. Bouzkova’s impeccable serving was a highlight, as she won 90% of her first-serve points and didn’t face a single break point throughout the match. She will meet unseeded Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland in the semifinals.
Viktorija Golubic survived a marathon match against No. 6 Arantxa Rus, eventually prevailing 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (5) after 3 hours and 24 minutes of intense play. Golubic showed incredible endurance and clutch shot-making in the final-set tiebreak, setting up a clash with the tournament’s top seed.
Second Semifinal: Sramkova vs. Siegemund
No. 2 seed Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia defeated Martina Trevisan of Italy 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, demonstrating her ability to bounce back after a tough second set. Sramkova’s powerful groundstrokes and well-placed serves were key to her victory.
Her opponent in the semifinal, Laura Siegemund of Germany, secured a straight-sets win over Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-2. Siegemund’s variety in play and strong net game gave her the upper hand as she aims to keep her momentum going.
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