Google News San Diego Open: Barbora Krejcikova's the only European among American women in the SF
by ABBEY JOHNSON
Barbora Krejcikova’s the only seed remaining in the San Diego Open. The fourth seed survived an exodus of seeds that included second seed Caroline Garcia and third seed Maria Sakkari to reach the semi-finals. The Czech defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 46 minutes.
Haddad Maia maintained a blank sheet both in the number of aces and double faults she hit. Krejcikova, however, had six aces and four double faults. The former French Open champion was the one who built a lead for herself across the two sets.
In the first set, the Brazilian did get on the comeback trail and won three games in a row to narrow her opponent’s lead to just a game. But Krejcikova ensured that her initial momentum didn’t go in vain as she pocketed the set and the lead in the match.
The second set saw more of Krejcikova’s dominance and this time none of Haddad Maia’s tactics went in her favour and Krejcikova was able to complete the win. Krejcikova finished the match by converting five of 10 break points she faced.
She also saved five of seven break points she faced. In terms of winners, Krejcikova had a field day as she hit thrice as many winners as the Brazilian (eight).
San Diego Open: At least one American will partake in the finale!
Looking to reach the final, Krejcikova will play Danielle Collins. The American toppled Garcia 6-2, 6-3 in their last-eight meeting, in an hour and seven minutes. Collins won 79% of her first-serve points and 68% of her second-serve points.
She also found a way to score points on Garcia’s second serve, winning 56% points on return on the latter’s second serve. Collins’ fellow countrywoman, Emma Navarro outperformed Sakkari in their quarter-final.
The qualifier took two hours and 13 minutes and shrugged the ignominy of losing a set, 6-0 before clinching a 6-4, 0-6, 7-6(4) win. In the deciding set tiebreak, Navarro converted the first of the two match points she brought up.
Lastly, Sofia Kenin also reached the penultimate round of the San Diego Open. Kenin needed merely 78 minutes to trump Anastasia Potapova, 6-2, 6-3. She will play Navarro for a spot in the last round.