WTA Spherical-up | Boulter breezes into Final 4 in Tokyo, whereas Siniakova advances in Guangzhou

Katie Boulter impresses in Tokyo to make the Final 4, whereas the defending champion is overwhelmed in Guangzhou…

It is the top of the 12 months, and I’ve acquired nothing to lose. I am swinging out right here, having a smile on my face, and I am simply pleased with myself and my group for persevering with to push me all through till the top of the season. That is one thing I have not been capable of do earlier than, due to my physique, so I am very proud, and I am very completely happy to be right here within the semi-finals. Katie Boulter

Tokyo | WTA 500 Toray Pan Pacific Open

British No 1 Katie Boulter dropped simply 3 in opposition to Bianca Andreescu to succeed in the semi-finals in Tokyo on Friday, the place she’s going to meet Sofia Kenin, who upset Daria Kasatkina in her quarter-final, whereas high seed Zheng Qinwen went the gap earlier than seeing off Leylah Fernandez and organising a Final 4 assembly with Diana Shnaider.

Boulter, the ninth seed, wanted simply 62 minutes to breeze previous the Canadian wild-card, 6-2 6-1, and attain her third semi-final of the 12 months.

The 28-year-old dominated Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion who beat Serena Williams in straight units in that last, within the first of 4 quarter-finals, reserving a semi-final assembly with former Australia Open champion Sofia Kenin.

Boulter broke Andreescu within the opening service sport, and survived a break level to carry within the subsequent, with the Brit then rattling by way of the primary set as she instantly took management of the competition.

She took then took the subsequent 4 video games of the second earlier than Andreescu produced her first ace to carry a good service sport within the Fifth, just for Boulter to shut out a convincing win and attain the Final 4, having damaged Andreescu’s serve 5 instances within the contest.

“I felt like I performed very well in the present day,” Boulter, the World No 33, stated later. “I got here out right here with nothing to lose, actually. I had a fast turn-around yesterday.

“I simply wished to return out and luxuriate in it and I felt like I got here out and every little thing was form of clicking. Aside from the primary service sport, every little thing was actually good, and I felt like I performed a extremely good match.”

Boulter has but to drop a set in Tokyo, having overwhelmed Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon in straight units in her opener earlier than thrashing Japanese fortunate loser Kyoka Okamura to succeed in the quarters.

She has received two titles in 2024, claiming her maiden WTA 500 victory on the San Diego Open in March earlier than successful the Nottingham Open on grass forward of Wimbledon, however has didn’t progress past the 2nd-round in her final two occasions.

“The final couple of months I felt, like, I used to be very shut, however I simply wasn’t fairly there,” Boulter added. “Credit score to me and my group, we preserve pushing, and we’ve labored actually arduous by way of the Asian swing. It’s beginning to repay. I really feel, like, it fits me out right here.

“It’s the top of the 12 months, and I’ve acquired nothing to lose. I’m swinging out right here, having a smile on my face, and I’m simply pleased with myself and my group for persevering with to push me all through till the top of the season.

“That’s one thing I haven’t been capable of do earlier than, due to my physique, so I’m very proud, and I’m very completely happy to be right here within the semi-finals.”

© Richard A. Brooks/AFP by way of Getty Photos

Boulter will tackle one other Grand Slam singles champion, 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin, within the Final 4 on Saturday, after the wild-carded American impressively took down Fifth-seeded Daria Kasatkina from Russia, 6-3 6-4, in 78 minutes.

Later, No 1 seed and Paris Olympic Gold medalist Zheng Qinwen beat Eighth-seeded Leylah Fernandez from Canada, 6-0 1-6 6-3, after an hour and 47 minutes.

The Chinese language No 1 levelled her head-to-head with Fernandez, successful the primary 7 video games and increasing her sport streak in opposition to the Canadian to fifteen, following her win over the Eighth seed in Wuhan 2 weeks in the past earlier than Fernandez received 6 in a row to drive the decider.

Within the semi-finals, Zheng will play Diana Shnaider, the sixth seed from Russia, who superior by means of a walkover when Sayaka Ishii, a Japanese qualifier, was unable to take to the court docket on account of an undisclosed sickness or harm.

In 2022, a 19-year-old Zheng reached the primary WTA last of her profession in Tokyo, overwhelmed by one other Russian, Liudmila Samsonova, within the title match.

High seed Katerina Siniakova stayed on observe with a win over Bernarda Pera within the quarter-finals on the Guangzhou Open in China

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Guangzhou | WTA 250 Guangzhou Open introduced by AVAIR

High seed Katerina Siniakova defeated Bernarda Pera for sixth time in 7 conferences in Guangzhou on Friday.

The Czech improved her file in opposition to the American to 6-1 total, with a 6-4 7-5 win, and superior to her 2nd tour-level semi-final of 2024 after an hour and 24 minutes.

There, Siniakova will face Olga Danilovic from Serbia, who got here from 2-4 down within the second set to defeat qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew from Thailand, 6-4 6-4, in her quarter-final.

Danilovic superior to her 2nd tour-level semi-final of 2024, and the primary of her profession on arduous courts, after an hour and 44 minutes.

Italian Lucia Bronzetti improved to 2-0 in opposition to China’s Wang Xiyu, dethroning the defending Guangzhou champion with a 6-4 6-1 win to succeed in her 2nd tour-level semi-final of 2024 after an hour and 38 minutes.

American qualifier Caroline Dolehide recovered after letting a 3-0 second-set lead slip to upset the seventh seed, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro from Spain, 6-4 4-6 6-0, in an hour an 50 minutes to additionally make her 2nd WTA semi-final of 2024.

Lucia Bronzetti ended Wang Xiyu’s hopes of defending her Guangzhou Open title within the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 occasion in China on Friday

© STR/AFP by way of Getty Photos