Number 5 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova rallied from one set down to beat Wang Qiang 3-6 6-4 6-3 in a hard-fought match reaching the semifinals at the Shenzen Open.
Alexandrova dropped her serve six times, but she broke serve seven times. Wang got the first break in the fifth game to open up a 4-1 lead. It was the first of five consecutive breaks that ended the opening set. Wang earned her third break in the ninth game after a double break from Alexandrova to close out the first set 6-3.
Wang went up an early break at the start of the second set to build up a 6-3 2-0 lead. Alexandrova broke twice in a row in the third and fifth games to win four consecutive games. The Russian player did not convert three set points on Wang’s serve at 5-3 in the ninth game, but she closed out the second set to force the match to the third set, as Wang hit a backhand wide on her fourth chance.
Alexandrova broke twice in the first and seventh games to race out to build up a 5-2 lead. Wang pulled one break back, as Alexandrova was holding a match point. Alexandrova sealed the win with a break thanks to a return winner down the line in the ninth game.
Alexandrova set up a semifinal against Garbine Muguruza. The Spanish player won their only previous clash at Wimbledon 2017 en route to claiming her first Grand Slam tournament.
“We played once, but it was a few years ago. I lost, and I hope I can do better tomorrow”, said Alexandrova.
Alexandrova claimed her third WTA 125k title in Limoges in the past four years last December.
“I had a good pre-season. I played a tournament in Limoges, and I think it really helped because I had good tennis practice there”, said Alexandrova.
Muguruza battled past Zarina Diyas 6-4 2-6 6-4 in their first ever match to secure her spot in the semifinal. Both players traded break in the first two games of the opening set. Muguruza got her second break at love in the second game and held her serve after saving a break point. The Spanish player closed out the first set at 30 in the 10th game.
Diyas went up a double break to race out to a 4-0 lead. Muguruza pulled one break back in the fifth game. Diyas earned her third break at 15 in the eighth game with a double fault from Muguruza.
Muguruza started the decisive set with an early break. Diyas broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Muguruza earned another break in the ninth game and closed out the third set 6-4 on her first match point.
“I was expecting a very tough match, and at end, it was. I think she came out in the second set playing much better. I just kept competing and I am happy with these kind of victories”, said Muguruza.
