Wuhan Open, China

Women’s Semifinals

FIRST MATCH: [10] Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) vs. [37] Ashleigh Barty (AUS)

Ostapenko was clearly feeling the effects of her tough victory in the previous round against Garbine Muguruza. There was an on court assessment because she was not feeling well during the changeover after she lost the first set and she never seemed right after that.  Her usually fiery personality was dampened by fatigue and she had nothing left to give in set two. Barty took full advantage of her physically compromised opponent and won the second set at love. Barty won 6-3, 6-0 to advance to her third career singles final.

SECOND MATCH: [20] Caroline Garcia (FRA) vs. [80] Maria Sakkari (GRE)

This was the first WTA Tour semifinals for Sakkari and while she was able to break Garcia in her first service game to get the early break lead; she could not consolidate the break, dropping her serve from 40-15 up to get back on serve. Sakkari hung in for a bit in the first set; however, at a critical moment she lost her focus and was broken again. This time, she was not able to break back as Garcia was determined to hold on to her lead.

As the match progressed, her frustration mounted as she sensed the match slipping out of her control. Garcia secured the first set; yet, Sakkari still tried to fight her way through to the tennis she had been playing all tournament. The second set started the same way as the first; they traded breaks in the first two service games before Garcia once again grabbed the lead and took control of the set. It was evident that Garcia was set on getting her first semifinal victory of the season and she did so in a dominant fashion, dispatching the qualifier 6-3, 6-2.

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