Naomi Osaka needed three sets and a sterling comeback in the final set of her quarter-final at the China Open to enter the semis. Second seeded Caroline Wozniacki also stormed into the semi-final.
The US Open winner and Japan’s Osaka looked to be struggling in her match against China’s Zhang Shuai after losing the first set. She came back to level the match at one set apiece, but fell to 1-4 down in the final set.
Osaka went on to win six of the next seven games to complete her victory, a fourth win in five three-setter matches.
The Japanese player will take on Anastasia Sevastova in semi-final now who overcame Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 7-6(5).
Second seeded Wozniacki, who also booked her place in the WTA Finals, did not break into any sweat when she defeated qualifier Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 6-2.
The Dane’s form has been patchy this year since winning her first ever Grand Slam title, an Australian Open win, but she has shown remarkable composure at the China Open so far. In the four matches she’s played in this competition so far, Wozniacki is yet to drop a set which includes beating Belinda Bencic, Petra Martic, Anett Kontaveit and now Siniakova.
Wozniacki will now be up against Wang Qiang. Wang overcame Aryna Sabalenka in her quarter-final after having seen a dream run in recent times, winning 7-5, 7-5.
That included a 6-0, 6-0 rout of Jelena Ostapenko, a straight-set drubbing of Karolina Pliskova and a semi-final appearancee at Wuhan last week.
Petra Kvitova, despite her early loss in the tournament has also become one of five players to have qualified for the WTA Finals. Three other spots should be decided in the coming days.
Meanwhile Juan Martin del Potro will now take on Fabio Fognini in one of the semi-finals of the ATP Beijing Open while Kyle Edmund will be up against Basilashvili in the other one.
Be the first to comment