Hsieh Su-wei cruised into the Taiwan Open singles semi-finals in Kaohsiung yesterday, while the Chan sisters also advanced to the semis in the doubles.
Sixth seed Hsieh took just 52 minutes to complete a 6-0, 6-2 victory over world No. 95 Elizaveta Kulichkova on Center Court at the Yang-Ming Tennis Center.
The Taiwanese world No. 81 saved two of four break points and converted seven of 11, winning 56 of the 87 points contested to maintain her perfect career record against the Russian after victories in Sydney earlier this year and in Kuala Lumpur last year.
Photo: Huang Chih-yuan, Taipei Times
Next up for Hsieh today is likely a much tougher proposition, a semi-final against second seed Misaki Doi, who advanced without hitting a shot when seventh seed and fellow Japanese Kurumi Nara withdrew from the tournament due to an injury.
However, the Taiwanese No. 1 has a 4-1 career record against the world No. 61, although she lost their most recent meeting in Strasbourg, France, in 2013.
Also advancing to the singles semi-finals yesterday was top seed Venus Williams, who defeated Latvian world No. 103 Anastasija Sevastova 7-5, 6-2 in 72 minutes on Center Court.
Photo: Huang Chih-yuan, Taipei Times
The American world No. 12 saved three of seven break points and converted seven of 10, winning 68 of the 119 points contested to set up a semi-final against third seed Yulia Putintseva, who advanced when Swiss world No. 117 Stefanie Voegele retired from their quarter-final with an injury after losing the first set 6-3.
Williams has a 2-0 career record against the Kazakh world No. 64 after victories at Wimbledon last year and in Montreal in 2014.
In yesterday’s doubles quarter-final, top seeds Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan defeated Marina Melnikova of Russia and Mandy Minella of Luxembourg 6-2, 6-4 in the final match of the day on Center Court.
Photo: Huang Chih-yuan, Taipei Times
The Taiwanese sisters saved four of six break points and converted five of eight, winning 60 of the 103 points contested in 70 minutes to set up a semi-final today against fellow Taiwanese Hsu Ching-wen and Lee Ya-hsuan.
Photo: Huang Chih-yuan, Taipei Times
Photo: Huang Chih-yuan, Taipei Times
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