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Daria Kasatkina became the first semifinalist at the WTA Elite Trophy but afterward received some pretty disgusting abuse by presumably angry bettors. On Thursday, world No 17 Kasatkina defeated Magda Linette 6-3 6-4. With that win, Kasatkina - who previously also beat Barbora Krejcikova - improved to 2-0 in Group A and became the first player to seal a semifinal spot at the WTA Elite Trophy.
Kasatkina delivered a great performance on Thursday in Zhuhai to beat 2023 Australian Open semifinalist Linette. Still, some weren't happy with Kasatkina. Kasatkina, 26, was evidently disgusted with messages and underlined this simply needs to stop.
I won btw. This shit is completely out of control pic.twitter.com/QEvJRfzoFV — Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) October 26, 2023
Kasatkina saw off Linette in straight sets
Kasatkina made a great start to the match, breaking Linette in the very first game of the match.
Down by an early break, Linette quickly responded as she broke back Kasatkina immediately in the second game. However, blowing an early first-set break didn't impact Kasatkina, who responded by claiming back-to-back breaks in the third and fifth games to win four games in a row and open a 5-1 lead.
At that moment, Linette didn't look to have many chances of winning the first set. But the Pole refused to quit as she saved a set point in the seventh game and two more set points in the eighth game en route to reducing the deficit to 3-5.
Just when it seemed Linette may create a big comeback in the first set, Kasatkina broke the Pole again in the ninth game to seal the first set. After losing the first set, Linette started the second set with a 2-0 lead. However, it didn't take Kasatkina long to respond as the Russian earned back-to-back breaks and won four games in a row to overturn the deficit and take a 4-2 lead.
Linette ended Kasatkina's run by getting the break back in the seventh game but the Russian claimed another break in the eighth game to go 5-3 up. Kasatkina failed to serve out for the match in the ninth game but broke Linette in the following game when the Pole was serving to stay in the match.