This year’s Australian Open Sofia Kenin overcame Oceane Dodin 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 to reach her first semifinal since winning her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
Kenin saved the only break point she faced in the opening set and broke three times to win the opening set 6-1.
Kenin converted her third break point chance in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Dodin came back from 2-5 down and broke back in the ninth game before holding her serve in the 10h game at deuce to draw level to 5-5. Dodin rallied from 1-4 down to win the tie-break 7-5. Kenin broke twice and sealed the win on her second match point after saving a match point in the eighth game.
“It was still not perfect today, but I definitely feel like I found my rhythm. I was playing well, dictating well. It was strange match. I think it was a good match. I played some good tennis, some good points, and I am happy with the way that I found my rhythm after yesterday”, said Kenin.
Daria Kasatkina beat Camila Giorgi 6-2 4-6 6-2 to reach the semifinal at the WTA International Tournament.
Kasatkina earned the first break of the match in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Giorgi saved three break points in the fifth game to claw her way back to 2-3. Kasatkina broke for the second time and served out the first set 6-2.
Giorgi started the second set with a break in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Kasatkina pulled the break back in the fifth game for 2-3. Giorgi held on her next service games and sealed the second set with a break in the 10th game.
Kasatkina went up a double break to take a 3-0 lead at the start of the third set and saved two break points in the fourth game to hold her serve for 4-0. Kasatkina held on her next service games to win the third set 6-2.
Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck cruised past Caroline Garcia 6-2 6-2 to reach her first semifinal of the season. Van Uytvanck converted her third break point chance to take a 3-1 lead. The Belgian player fended off the only break point chance she faced in the first set in the seventh game and held serve to take a 5-2 lead. She wrapped up the first set on her third set point.
Van Uytvanck won five consecutive games to build up a 6-2 3-0 lead. She fended off three break points to take a 4-1 lead, and four break points in the seventh game before closing out the match in the eighth game with her fourth break.
“I think I played well. It’s a good win for me. She beat two Belgian players here, so I was like: “No way”, said Van Uytvanck after the match.
Anna Lena Friedsam came back from one set down to beat Viktoria Kuzmova 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.
