{"id":6895,"date":"2023-09-23T04:40:08","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T04:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/garcia-kenin-reach-wta-guadalajara-semis-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-09-23T04:40:08","modified_gmt":"2023-09-23T04:40:08","slug":"garcia-kenin-reach-wta-guadalajara-semis-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/garcia-kenin-reach-wta-guadalajara-semis-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Garcia, Kenin reach WTA Guadalajara semis | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nGUADALAJARA:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

France’s Caroline Garcia<\/a> overpowered Victoria Azarenka in straight sets to reach the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 Guadalajara Open on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Third seed Garcia was always in control against her 10th-seeded opponent from Belarus, winning 6-3, 6-4 in 1hr 37min.<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old Frenchwoman will face Maria Sakkari in the last four after the second seed from Greece eased past Colombia’s Emiliana Arango 6-3, 6-4.<\/p>\n

Garcia, who is chasing the 12th title of her career, used her powerful serve to gain the upper hand on Azarenka, slamming down 10 aces during the match.<\/p>\n

Garcia was also able to save no fewer than 11 break points to deny Azarenka any chance of an opening.<\/p>\n

“It’s always tricky,” said Garcia. “She had a lot of break point opportunities, but I served really well at those points, so I guess I have to thank my serve.”<\/p>\n

The win ensured that Garcia, the world number 11, will move into the top 10 at the end of this tournament.<\/p>\n

In other quarter-final action on Thursday, former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin’s<\/a> recent resurgence continued as she overpowered 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez of Canada 6-4, 6-7 (6\/8), 6-1 to reach the last four.<\/p>\n

Kenin, 24, has gradually worked her way back up the rankings after tumbling to 426th in the world last year following a slew of injuries and upheaval in her coaching set-up.<\/p>\n

She has won 14 of her last 17 matches on the WTA Tour since July, and is poised to climb back into the top 30 after this tournament.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, she secured her latest semi-final berth the hard way, advancing despite coughing up 14 double faults, with Fernandez racking up 15 aces.<\/p>\n

“Leylah played great,” Kenin said in her on-court interview.<\/p>\n

“She started off really well in the second, and I almost came back, almost won it. I was kind of frustrated that I lost it, but she’s a fighter, so I knew I needed to cool off and fight in the third.”<\/p>\n

Kenin, who also reached the semi-finals in San Diego last week, will face unseeded American Caroline Dolehide in the last four.<\/p>\n

Dolehide defeated Italy’s Martina Trevisan 3-6, 7-6 (11\/9) 6-3 in their quarter-final.<\/p>\n

The American battled into her first WTA 1000 semi-final after saving four match points in the second set before winning the deciding set.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n