Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Latvian partner Jelena Ostapenko yesterday overpowered Australia’s Priscilla Hon and Czech Karolina Muchova to advance to the women’s doubles semi-finals of the Brisbane International as last year’s Australian Open runners-up prepare for another run in Melbourne.
Top seeds Hsieh, who turned 40 on Sunday, and Ostapenko, 28, handily won the first set 6-1, before giving up the second 1-6 and surviving the third 10-6.
Hsieh and Ostapenko, who were also runners-up at Wimbledon last year, are to play the winners of today’s match between fourth seeds Irina Khromacheva and Alexandra Panova of Russia and Ukrainian twin sisters Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok.
Photo: Reuters
The Taiwanese-Latvian duo on Monday dominated Australia’s Olivia Gadecki and Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova 6-1, 6-4.
World No. 9 Hsieh, who has won seven Grand Slam titles in women’s doubles, is the only WTA player in her 40s ranked in the top 100. She reached a career-high No. 1 in May 2014.
In the men’s singles, former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev extended his impressive start to the season ahead of the Australian Open, which starts on Jan. 18, with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Frances Tiafoe.
In the women’s singles, fourth seed Jessica Pegula of the US beat Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in a nearly two-hour match.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff pulled off double duty to drag defending champions the US into the United Cup semi-finals, while world No. 2 Iga Swiatek did her bit for Poland.
Fourth-ranked Gauff, who suffered a surprise defeat last time out, put the US on their way in their quarter-final against Greece with a 6-3, 6-2 win over former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari in Perth.
Stefanos Tsitsipas brought Greece level by defeating struggling Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-5.
In the deciding mixed doubles, Gauff teamed up with Christian Harrison to battle past Tsitsipas and Sakkari 4-6, 6-4, 10-8.
“Definitely a much better match today,” Gauff said after making light work of Sakkari. “Last match, I just tried to erase it. That’s the beauty of this tournament. So definitely happy to give my team the lead today.”
Six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek beat 97th-ranked Suzan Lamens 6-3, 6-2 in the tie against the Netherlands in Sydney.
Hubert Hurkacz, on his way back after being out for seven months following knee surgery, defeated Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) as Poland sealed their last-eight spot.
Poland are tomorrow to play hosts Australia, with the winners facing the US for a place in Sunday’s final.
Additional reporting by AFP
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