{"id":11589,"date":"2023-10-06T22:22:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T22:22:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/swiatek-sets-up-gauff-semi-final-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-10-06T22:22:04","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T22:22:04","slug":"swiatek-sets-up-gauff-semi-final-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/swiatek-sets-up-gauff-semi-final-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Swiatek sets up Gauff semi-final | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nBEIJING:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iga Swiatek will play Coco Gauff<\/a> in the China Open women’s semi-finals, after the world’s second and third-ranked players both won in Beijing on Friday.<\/p>\n

World number two Swiatek came from a set behind to defeat Caroline Garcia 6-7 (8\/10), 7-6 (7\/5), 6-1 in a match that hinged on two nail-biting tie-breaks.<\/p>\n

Gauff, the US Open champion, comfortably disposed of world number six Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-4.<\/p>\n

Swiatek endured a tense opening set that Garcia \u2013 ranked 10th \u2013 eventually stole with a vicious passing shot at the end of a marathon tie-break.<\/p>\n

The Pole was 4-1 up in set two but threatened a match-ending collapse against a stubborn Garcia, finally edging it when the Frenchwoman netted a limp backhand.<\/p>\n

From there, Swiatek<\/a> took control, notching a double break in the deciding set and finally taking match point at the fifth time of asking.<\/p>\n

“For sure, it was really intense. We played really fast,” the four-time Grand Slam winner told a post-match news conference.<\/p>\n

“There was no time sometimes to think or analyse. I’m happy I used my intuition a lot,” she said.<\/p>\n

“I just knew that she was risking, so… her mistakes could come.”<\/p>\n

Gauff sailed through a rapid first set and made short work of her opponent in a dominant second, breaking serve in the fifth game.<\/p>\n

She took the match by thundering down a meaty serve that Sakkari could only return wide.<\/p>\n

The China Open<\/a> is taking place for the first time since 2019 after Beijing ended strict zero-Covid travel curbs.<\/p>\n

The men’s competition concluded on Wednesday, when Italy’s Jannik Sinner beat world number three Daniil Medvedev in the final.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n