WTA Spherical-up | Boulter makes 2nd semi-final in a row in Hong Kong, as high seeds prevail in Jiangxi

Britain’s Katie Boulter powered into the Final 4 in Hong Kong, whereas high seeds Marie Bouzkova and Rebecca Sramkova make it into the the semis in China, and the quarters get set in Mexico…

That was an absolute battle [against Yuan Yue in Australia], I believed we performed a extremely good match, and there wasn’t a lot in it. Tomorrow’s going to be actually robust. I’ve watched a whole lot of her matches this week, and I’m positive she’s been watching my video games. It’s the top of the 12 months, I’m nonetheless smiling and nonetheless having enjoyable. Katie Boulter

Hong Kong | WTA 250 Hong Kong Tennis Open

Britain’s Katie Boulter, the No 2 seed in Hong Kong, reached her 2nd semi-final in as many weeks, and her 4th of 2024, with a sensational 6-4 6-0 defeat of Anastasia Zakharova, powering her well past the Russian in 75 minutes.

Ranked 29 on this planet, Boulter saved 2 break factors within the seventh recreation of a good first set, earlier than making the essential break herself within the tenth.

The second was a one-sided affair, with Boulter delivering a bagel in simply half-hour, the spotlight being a shocking cross-court forehand after a prolonged rally within the 4th recreation.

“The primary set, I feel, I used to be on one other planet,” stated Boulter, who additionally reached the Toray Pan Pacific Open semi-finals in Tokyo final week. “She was taking part in some good tennis.

“I picked up at 5-3, and performed some actually good things after that. I used to be free and relaxed on the courtroom.”

The British No 1 raised her stage when it mattered most in opposition to an impressed opponent ranked 113, who greater than matched the 2nd seed for many of the opening set.

Boulter held serve with an ace to steer 5-4, after which sealed the primary break of the match to take the opener 6-4 after Zakharova struck her forehand into the web.

Zakharova put the Brit below strain within the opening recreation of the second, however Boulter held on, earlier than then producing a wonderful volley on break level to maneuver right into a 2-0 lead, and by no means appeared again.

A second break adopted, courtesy of a shocking cross-court forehand, and she or he cruised out to a 4-0 lead earlier than, after holding yet one more time, she broke Zakharova for a third time to wrap up the win, and safe her spot within the Final 4.

The 28-year outdated is looking for a third WTA Tour title this season, having received the WTA 500 occasion in San Diego and the Nottingham Open this 12 months.

She then suffered a stoop after Wimbledon earlier than selecting up her good type once more in the course of the Asian swing.

This newest win continues Boulter’s sensational run of type, and means she rises 2 locations to a career-high of not less than No 27 within the dwell WTA rankings.

Boulter subsequent will face sixth seed Yuan Yue from China, who defeated American Sofia Kenin, 6-3 6-3, for a spot in Sunday’s closing.

Yuan wanted 80 minutes to safe her straight units win, and improved her file in opposition to Kenin to 2-0 as she superior to her Third semi-final of 2024.

Boulter defeated Yue within the 1st-round of the Australian Open in January, successful 7-5 7-6 (1).

“That was an absolute battle, I believed we performed a extremely good match, and there wasn’t a lot in it,” Boulter instructed Sky Sports activities. “Tomorrow’s going to be actually robust.

“I’ve watched a whole lot of her matches this week, and I’m positive she’s been watching my video games,” she added. “It’s the top of the 12 months, I’m nonetheless smiling and nonetheless having enjoyable.”

On the opposite facet of the draw, No 1 seed Diana Shnaider confronted Suzan Lemens, and Third-seeded Leylah Fernandez took on Bernarda Pera within the quarter-finals.

Shnaider held off Lamens, 6-0 6-7(4) 6-2, after the Dutchwoman staged a fight-back, having endured the lack of a bagel first set.

The Russian needed to get better after dropping a 5-3 lead within the second to defeat Lamens after an hour and 52 minute encounter that had appeared routine on the outset, and the highest seed advances to her seventh tour-level semi-final of the 12 months.

Defending champion Fernandez defeated America’s Pera for the Third time, 6-1 7-6(7), in 1 hour and 32 minutes to return to the Hong Kong semi-finals, the place she is going to face off in opposition to Shnaider on Saturday.

WTAtennis.com

Jiangxi | WTA 250 Jiangxi Open

In China, high seed and 2023 finalist Marie Bouzkova from the Czech Republic returned to the Jiangxi Open semi-finals with a comparatively routine 6-2 6-2 win over Fifth-seeded Kamilla Rakhimova from Russia, needing an hour and 23 minutes to advance on Thursday.

Bouzkova traces up in opposition to Viktorija Golubic for a spot in Sunday’s closing, after the Swiss held off No 6 seed Arantxa Rus from the Netherlands in a Jiangxi marathon, 7-5 4-6 7-6(5), that took 3 hours and 25 minutes to find out the result.

Golubic held off a come-back from 1-5 down within the third set by Rus, sealing her Third match level to succeed in her 1st WTA semi-final since Nottingham in 2022.

In the meantime, No 2 seed Rebecca Sramkova from Slovakia continued her robust autumn type by defeating Italy’s Martina Trevisan, 6-3 3-6 6-2, advancing to her Third profession WTA semi-final, all of which have come previously two months.

Sramkova meets Laura Siegemund within the Final 4 after the German noticed off Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-4 6-2, in an hour 49 minutes to make her 2nd tour-level semi-final of 2024

Dwelling favorite Renata Zarazua got here from a set all the way down to defeat qualifier Maja Chwalinska and make the Final 8 on the Mérida Open Akron on Thursday

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Mérida | WTA 250 Mérida Open Akron

High seed Renata Zarazua got here from a set all the way down to defeat qualifier Maja Chwalinska from Poland, 2-6 6-2 6-1, within the 2nd-round of the Mérida Open Akron in Mexico on Thursday, the Mexican advancing to her 2nd tour-level quarter-final following Acapulco 2020.

For a spot within the semi-final Zarazua will face Zeynep Sonmez from Turkey, who overcame France’s Elsa Jacquemot, 7-6(3) 6-3, after an hour and 52 minute battle to make her 2nd Final 8 look of her profession.

Russia’s Polina Kudermetova continued her spectacular run by storming into her Third profession quarter-final with a 6-3 6-4 win over America’s Varvara Lepchenko, after an hour and 26 minutes of play.

Kudermetova upset the No 2 seed, Nadia Podoroska from Argentina, 6-1 6-1, in her opening spherical on Wednesday.

Her opponent within the Final 8 is Nina Stojanovic from Serbia, who ended Tampico 125 champion Marina Stakusic’s 8-match successful streak with a straight-sets win within the Merida Open Akron second spherical.

The 28-year-old Serb superior to her first WTA quarter-final since Nottingham 2021 with a 6-3 6-3 win over the 19-year outdated Canadian after an hour and 40 minutes of play.

In the meantime, Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo got here from a break down within the third set to outlast Italy’s Lucrezia Stefanini, 6-4 1-6 6-4, after a 3 hour 23 minute 2nd-round marathon.

This was Sorribes Tormo’s sixth 3-hour-plus tour-level match of 2024, and she or he awaits the winner of the match between Alina Korneeva from Russia and her Fifth-seeded compatriot Anna Blinkova, whose 2nd-round match was held in a single day after the event performed catch-up following rain.