Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff will play one another in Saturday's semi-finals on the Wuhan Open in China after snug straight-set wins in Friday's quarter-finals.
World No 1 Sabalenka and No 4-ranked Gauff will compete for a spot in Sunday's Wuhan ultimate, with the winner to face both Wang Xinyu or Qinwen Zheng.
Gauff claimed her eighth WTA win in a row and fiftieth of the yr with a 6-0 6-4 conquer Poland's Magda Linette because the 20-year-old American chases back-to-back match successes after victory ultimately week's China Open in Beijing.
While Gauff gained the primary set with out shedding a sport, the American had to save 4 break factors on her serve so as to achieve this, with her returns finally proving too robust for Linette on the decisive moments.
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“I'm really happy with how I played,” mentioned Gauff, who overcame making eight double-faults within the match.
“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.”
Sabalenka later cruised by means of to her third successive Wuhan semi-final by beating Polish opponent Magdalena Frech 6-2 6-2 in a one-sided match during which the Belarusian delivered 42 winners.
The 26-year-old gained the earlier two editions of the match, in 2018 and 2019, prior to its five-year absence from the calendar after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sabalenka vs Gauff for a spot in Sunday's ultimate
Sabalenka and Gauff will meet on Saturday for the primary time since January's Australian Open semi-final
Gauff holds a 4-3 benefit within the pair's earlier conferences, famously successful the 2023 US Open ultimate earlier than Sabalenka gained her revenge on this yr's Australian Open semis.
“We've played a lot of matches in the past, a lot of great battles,” mentioned Sabalenka. “I'm really excited.”
While Sabalenka vs Gauff will dominate world headlines, the eye of the house followers might be centered on an all-Chinese contest within the different semi-final.
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Wang Xinyu fought again from shedding the primary set to beat world No 33 Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6 7-5 7-6 (8-6).
Fifth seed Qinwen Zheng then joined her compatriot within the final 4 by beating Italian third seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2 3-6 6-3.
What's coming up on Sky Sports Tennis in October?
- Shanghai Masters – ATP 1000 (October 2-13)
- Wuhan Open – WTA 1000 (October 7-13)
- Almaty Open, Kazakhstan – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- Stockholm Open, Sweden – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- European Open, Antwerp – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- Japan Open, Osaka – WTA 250 (October 14-20)
- Ningbo Open, China – WTA 500 (October 14-20)
- Erste Bank Open, Vienna – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
- Swiss Indoors, Basel – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
- Guangzhou Open, China – WTA 250 (October 21-27)
- Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis, Tokyo – WTA 500 (October 21-27)
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