WTA Finals Riyadh—Saudi Arabia
Swiatek Defeats Kasatkina at WTA Finals; Shapovalov Advances to Belgrade Final Four
Thursday’s action at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia featured five-time Major winner Iga Swiatek pick up her second victory of the week, defeating Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-0.
Needing 51 minutes to complete her victory, Swiatek hit one ace, won 76 percent of her first serve points and broke serve on five occasions.
Never facing a break point, Swiatek improved to 6-1 against Kasatkina in lifetime meetings. Kasatkina had entered the event as an alternate for Jessica Pegula. The American withdrew from the tournament with a wrist injury.
Swiatek will now await the winner of the day’s next match to determine her fate in the event. If No. 3 seed Coco Gauff defeats reigning Wimbledon winner Barbora Krejcikova, then Swiatek advances. If Krejcikova prevails, then Swiatek is out the tournament.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka and No. 7 seed Qinwen Zheng have already booked their spots to Friday’s semifinals.
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Belgrade Open—Serbia
Former top 10 player and qualifier Denis Shapovalov reached the semifinals of the Belgrade Open on Thursday, defeating Australian Christopher O’Connell 6-2, 6-2.
In a one-sided affair that lasted one hour and 11 minutes, Shapovalov used his powerful serve and world-class backhand to create 12 aces and break serve on four occasions.
Improving to 24-22 on the season, Shapovalov will next face No. 4 seed Jiri Lehecka for a place in the finals.
Lehecka needed three sets to dismiss Lukas Klein 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3.
Other matches that are still to come on Thursday will include No. 3 seed Francisco Cerundolo taking on Hamad Medjedovic and Laslo Djere facing Fabian Marozsan.
Thursday’s Action in Metz
Thursday’s schedule at the Moselle Open in Metz, France will feature former BNP Paribas Open winner Cameron Norrie taking on Zizou Bergs and No. 8 seed Alex Michelsen facing Yunchaokete Bu.
Bu has been in great form this fall, picking eight main draw wins.
The day’s action will also feature an all-French clash between Quentin Halys vs. Benjamin Bonzi.
Talented Frenchman Corentin Moutet is already in the semifinals, via a walkover victory against top seed Andrey Rublev. Rublev withdrew from the event after qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.
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