Following easy straight-set victories in Friday’s quarterfinals, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff will face one another in Saturday’s semi-finals at the Wuhan Open in China.
World No 1 Sabalenka and No 4-ranked Gauff will compete for a place in Sunday’s Wuhan final, with the winner to face either Wang Xinyu or Qinwen Zheng.
Gauff defeated Magda Linette of Poland 6-0 6-4 to record her eighth consecutive WTA victory and her 50th of the year. The 20-year-old American is attempting to win back-to-back tournaments after winning the China Open in Beijing last week.
Although the American had to save four break points on her serve to win the opening set without dropping a game, Gauff’s returns were ultimately too powerful for Linette at the crucial times.
“Clearly, the first set went smoothly. In the second 5-3 game, I had opportunities to perhaps close it out, but I’m glad I was able to do so with my serve.
Later, in a lopsided encounter in which the Belarusian produced 42 winners, Sabalenka easily defeated Polish opponent Magdalena Frech 6-2 6-2 to get to her third consecutive Wuhan semi-final.
Before the competition was taken off the calendar for five years because to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 26-year-old had won the previous two editions in 2018 and 2019.
Gauff, who notably won the 2023 US Open final before Sabalenka exacted her revenge in this year’s Australian Open semifinals, has a 4-3 advantage in their prior confrontations.
“We’ve played a lot of matches in the past, a lot of great battles,” Sabalenka added. “I am incredibly thrilled.
International headlines will center on Sabalenka vs. Gauff, while domestic fans will focus on an all-Chinese showdown in the other semi-final.
After dropping the opening set, Wang Xinyu rallied to defeat Ekaterina Alexandrova, ranked 33rd in the world, 4-6 7-5 7-6 (8-6).
The fifth seed Then, Qinwen Zheng defeated Italian third seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2 3-6 6-3 to join her countrywoman in the round of four.