China's Zhang Shuai was up against Johanna Konta in the quarter-finals of the China Open. By reaching this stage in Beijing, it marks the best result ever for Zhang at a WTA premier event, but it seems each time the Chinese makes a deep run, she collides with Konta. The Brit beat Zhang in the quarters at this year's Australian Open and also eliminated her early at the Wuhan Open last week, so this was a chacne for Zhang to get some revenge.
Zhang Shuai of China hits a return to Johanna Konta of Britain during their women's singles quarterfinal match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 7, 2016. Johanna Konta won by 2-0. [Xinhua] |
That's Zhang serving at the top of your screen and she gets off to a great start building a 2-0 lead. The Chinese would continue her strong play breaking Konta's first two service games for a 4-0 advantage.
But the 11th seeeded Brit suddenly comes alive in the fifth game and now has break point. Sh
e gets lucky off the net and Zhang starts to come in looking for the winner, but she puts a bit too much on this volley and Konta converts the break to get on the board.
Konta then hold serve to make it 4-2.
And she would go on to win six games in a row, taking the first set 6-4.
Looking to get back in control to start the second, Zhang goes out wide with a serve and then comes in for the short return, but Konta is all over smacking a backhand winner. Konta's confidence clearly growing with each point.
The Brit would continue to play aggressively and it pays off as she breaks Zhang.
From there the Chinese would never recover and on match point, Zhang hits just wide and Konta takes the second 6-0 after winning 12 games in a row.
"I did not feel sad today because my opponet played really well. I also don't think it is a pity as everything was out of my control. I got the best-ever result in this year's China Open and I feet really happy to have advanced to the last eight in WTA Premier matches. I was satisfied to my performances," Zhang said.
Radwanska defeats Shvedova 6-1, 6-2
Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska from Poland is taking on Yaroslava Shvedova from Kazakhstan. The first set Radwanska serves the ball and Radwanska wins rally to lead.
Radwanska serves agains and the unseeded Shvedova, ranked 39th in the world, had been forced to play twice on Friday after rain had delayed her match against Alize Cornet - and fatigue may have played a part in her defeat.
The match point, Radwanska serves and won the whole 6-1, 6-2 and seal her third China Open semi-final in the last four years. The Pole is seeking her third WTA title of the year and the 20th of her career.
Keys defeats Kvitova 6-3, 7-6
Eighth seed Madison Keys had to withstand a late fight back by Petra Kvitova before winning her China Open quarter-final. Keys' winner leads the match 5-3 and earns the advantage point.
The second set the two sides forced a tiebreak as Kvitoba's winner to break back and make it 6-6.
The match point keys wins the third set tie-break 7-5 to complete the three set win in two hours and 41 minutes, booking her spot in the last four. She is going to face Konta in the semi-finals.
Svitolina beats Gavrilova 7-6, 6-1
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina at the bottom of the screen is taking on Daria Gavrilova from Australia. The in-form Svitolina, who beat Sabine Lisicki and top seed Angelique Kerber in her previous two rounds, wins the first set as as Gavrilova hits forehand wide
The second set Svitolina takes a 3-1 lead in second set with forehand volley winner
The great run of Ukraine's Elina Svitolina continued as she wins the match 7-6, 6-1 with backhand return down the line. Up next for Svitolina is a semi-final match against third seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
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