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Linda Fruhvirtova was no match for Leylah Fernandez in their quarter-final clash at the Hong Kong Open on Friday. The Canadian posted a strong 7-6(2), 6-2 victory over the Czech in an hour and 42 minutes. Only five years separate Fruhvirtova and Fernandez but the latter made use of every bit of experience she had as a result of her age-related head start to play past the 18-year-old.
The initial part of the first set saw Fernandez hand back an early break of serve to Fruhvirtova. However, in the tie-break, there was no stopping the former US Open runner-up. In the second set, Fruhvirtova couldn’t keep up with her opponent.
As in the first set, Fernandez gained an early break of serve and this time, she didn’t give it back. In the deciding moments of the set, in the eighth game, while serving to force Fernandez to serve for the match, Fruhvirtova faced two match points at 15-40.
She saved the first but on the second, there wasn’t much she could do and Fernandez moved along in the draw.
Hong Kong Open: Martina Trevisan's too good for Elise Mertens
This is the first time in over a year that the southpaw’s made it to the semis of a WTA tournament.
Looking to make it to the title clash, Fernandez will face-off against Anna Blinkova. Seeded fifth, Blinkova got the better of Sara Sorribes Tormo. Like Fernandez, Blinkova needed to win the first set in a tie-break. The eventual score stood at 7-6(3), 6-3 for the seeded opponent.
Lastly, Martina Trevisan and Katerina Siniakova will vie for a place in the final at the Hong Kong Open. The Italian sixth seed claimed a straightforward 6-4, 6-3 win over Elise Mertens, who as the third seed was the highest seed left in the event. Siniakova got past Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 7-6(1), 6-4.