No. 3 seed Sofia Kenin survived a 5-2 deficit in the first set to take down Italian qualifier Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals of the Guangzhou International Women’s Open on Thursday in Guangzhou, China.
The 20-year-old American’s 7-5, 6-1 victory in one hour and 15 minutes set up a semifinal clash with Russia’s Anna Blinkova, a 6-3, 6-1 winner over Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.
The other semifinal pits Australian Samantha Stosur against Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic. Stosur beat Serbia’s Nina Stojanovic 6-2, 7-6 (1) and Golubic outlasted No. 4 seed and two-time Guangzhou champ Zhang Shuai 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Toray Pan Pacific Open
Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova knocked out No. 2 seed Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands to reach the quarterfinals in Osaka, Japan.
Pavlyuchenkova benefited from nine double faults and converted six of her eight break points to set up a meeting with Japanese wild card Misaki Doi, a 7-6 (5), 6-3 winner against No. 7 seed Donna Vekic of Croatia.
Kazakhstan’s Yulina Putintseva needed only 73 minutes to dispatch Russia’s Varvara Flink, 6-1, 6-1.
KEB Hana Bank Korea Open
No. 3 seed Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic sailed into the quarterfinals in Seoul with a 6-2, 6-3 win against Hungarian qualifier Timea Babos.
Muchova never lost serve in the 71-minute match and saved the only break point she faced, finishing with 22 winners to just 15 unforced errors. She will face Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon, a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 upset winner against No. 5 seed and compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic.
Spain’s Paula Badosa Gibert saved eight of nine break points and eliminated Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig 6-4, 6-2.
–Field Level Media
