Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff set for semi-final clash at Wuhan Open
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Aryna Sabalenka (left) and Coco Gauff earned straight-set wins in the quarter-finals on Oct 10.
PHOTOS: REUTERS, AFP
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WUHAN – US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will face world No. 4 Coco Gauff in the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open, after both players clinched straight-set wins in the quarter-finals on Oct 11.
Gauff earned her 50th win of the year on the WTA Tour as she beat Magda Linette 6-0, 6-4, while world No. 2 Sabalenka defeated Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-2.
“We’ve played a lot of matches in the past, a lot of great battles. I’m really excited,” said Sabalenka, who has won three of her seven meetings with Gauff.
“I think the main thing is, once again, to focus on myself, focus on my footwork, go to the net, finish the point over there. On this slow surface, you have to go there. You have to be brave enough and finish the point there.
“I think that’s the main plan. It worked really well in our last meeting, so I’ll just stick to the plan. I’ll try to put as much pressure as possible on her.”
The three-time Grand Slam winner wielded her powerful forehand to great effect as she broke twice to build a 4-0 lead, then held her own serves to secure the first set.
Poland’s Frech tried to fight back in the second set, getting her first break when she was 3-0 down before almost making it 3-3, but Sabalenka saved two break points to retain her lead and broke again to claim her 15th straight win in Wuhan.
She said: “I (had) to be on from the beginning. I’m glad I was able to win this match in two sets,” added the Belarusian, a champion here in 2018 and 2019.
Sabalenka’s next opponent Gauff was equally dominant earlier in the day, saving four break points and winning 66.7 per cent of her return points as former Australian Open semi-finalist Linette fell to a bagel in the first set.
Gauff, who made eight double faults in the match, faced a tougher battle in the second set but one of Linette’s 22 unforced errors gave the American an edge in the seventh game as she got the only break of the set, which sealed the win.
“I played well overall, maybe two bad games,” 20-year-old Gauff said in the post-match interview, after extending her winning streak to nine matches.
“Obviously a smooth first set. Had chances to maybe close it out in the 5-3 game in the second, but happy I was able to close it out on my serve.”
In men’s tennis, world No. 7 Taylor Fritz booked his place in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals on the same day, comfortably beating Belgium’s David Goffin 6-3, 6-4.
The American quickly took charge in the first set, breaking the 66th-ranked Goffin in the second and sixth games.
World No. 7 Taylor Fritz has booked his place in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals.
PHOTO: AFP
Underdog Goffin – who knocked out second seed Alexander Zverev in the last round – looked stronger in the second set, but ultimately could not replicate his feat with another top-10 scalp.
“I’m really happy with how I played... He’s such an incredible returner. I had to stay even more focused than normal on my service games,” said Fritz.
“I feel like sometimes it takes a couple of matches to find my routines, to find what feels good and what is working for me... I’ve come this far already, so I might as well really dial it in and I’m just enjoying being here.”
His next task will be even tougher as he will face Novak Djokovic, who survived a scare before beating Czech teenager Jakub Mensik 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-4. REUTERS, AFP
