Aryna Sabalenka cruised past Stefanie Voegele 6-0 6-3 to reach the quarter final at the Upper Ladies Austria Ladies WTA International tournament in Linz.
Sabalenka saved two break points before breaking three times to take a bagel win in the first set.
Sabalenka fended off three break points in the third game after two deuces before breaking serve to open up a 3-1 lead. The Belarusian player saved a total of four break points in the fourth and ninth games to win the second set 6-3. Sabalenka saved all nine break points she faced. Sabalenka will play against French qualifier Oceane Dodin for a spot in the semifinals. Sabalenka could secure the top 10 by reaching the final. She could tie Simona Halep for most titles won in 2020.
Sabalenka won her sixth consecutive match. At the recent Ostrava tournament she claimed both the singles title beating Victoria Azarenka and the doubles trophy with Mertens.
“I think I started really well, going for my shots and not missing at all. She missing playing more aggressively and using more power in the second set. I wasn’t as ready for that, but I adjusted quickly and that helped me win the match”, said Sabalenka.
Elise Mertens beat Vera Zvonareva 6-4 5-7 6-2. Mertens went up a double break to take a 4-1 lead. Zvonareva pulled a break back in the sixth game for 2-4, but Mertens won her next two service games to seal the opening set 6-4.
Zvonareva raced out to a 5-2 lead in the second game with a double break. Mertens got both breaks back in the fifth and ninth games to draw level to 5-5. Zvonareva saved four break points to hold serve after six deuces before breaking in the 12th game to clinch the second set 7-5.
Mertens broke twice to build up a 4-0 lead in the decider. Zvonareva got one break back in the sixth game for 2-4 but Mertens broke for the third time to close out the third set 6-2 with a letcord winner.
Sabalenka could face her doubles partner Mertens in the Linz final.
Mertens could face Veronika Kudemertova, who edged Aranxta Rus 6-4 1-6 6-3. Kudemertova won the opening set with a break in the opening game to take a 6-4 lead. Rus broke twice in the second and sixth games to take the second set 6-1. Rus saved a break point in the second game of the third set but Kudemertova sealed the third set 3-1 with a break in the fourth game.
This year’s Roland Garros semifinalist Nadia Podorska rallied from a set down to beat Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-4 after 2 hours and 32 minutes.
The first set started with three consecutive breaks. Podoroska broke twice to take a 2-1 lead. Giorgi reeled off four consecutive games to take a 5-3 lead with two consecutive breaks in the eighth and tenth games. Podorska broke back in the ninth game to draw level to 5-5, but he failed to convert on four break points. The Argentine player fended off three set points to hold serve sending the match to the tie-break. Giorgi reeled off four consecutive points to win the tie-break 7-4.
Podorska saved two break points to hold her serve and was pushed to six deuce points before racing out to a 3-0 lead with a break in the second game. Podorska reeled the final three games to win the second set 6-1.
Podorska dropped just four points and claimed the only break in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. The South American player held on her next two service to secure her spot in the quarter finals.
“I did not know it was only four points I have been working on my serve to generate a bit more power, so that I can serve faster and do more damage. I am playing with my legs most of all, engaging the whole body and and not just the shoulder”, said Podorska.
