17 year olds to contest Moscow final

Semi Final Day on three continents and the history continues to be made in Russia by two teenagers.

Playing in the final round of qualifying, Serbian 17 year old Olga Danilovic lost in three sets but was named as one of two lucky losers - eight spots were to be filled from qualifying and only six winners resulted from that draw.

Olga certainly made the most of her luck, winning four straight matches, including the stunning upset of top seed and world number ten Julia Goerges in the quarter final.

Today Danilovic went the distance to eliminate the remaining seed left in the tournament, Aliaksandra Sasnovich (5).

Danilovic overwhelmed Sasnovich in set one, 13 winners and a 6-2 lead.  After Sasnovich levelled the match at 2-6 7-5, Danilovic dominated the beginning of set three, using a powerful forehand to wear down the Belarusian and break for 2-1.

The left handed teenager saved five break points to consolidate 3-1.

Another Sasnovich service failure in the seventh game gave Danilovic the opportunity to serve for the match at 5-2.

She nervously dropped serve, a Sasnovich forehand winner clinching that game.  A Belarusian service hold and Danilovic was back at the line with a second chance to serve it out.  The Serbian forehand was astray and helped donate another break to a grateful Sasnovich 5-5.

Gritting her teeth, Danilovic found her range in the next game, power hitting the way to a break and the lead 6-5.  The third attempt to serve and win the match was successful, fittingly a massive forehand sealing the deal, and a debut WTA final 6-2 5-7 7-5

The home nations favourite of course has become Anastasia Potapova, who was granted a wildcard into the main draw. 

After two straight sets wins, including a particularly impressive performance against Kristyna Pliskova, Potapova required some resilience to come back from 1-6 playing qualifier Valentyna Ivakhnenko in the quarter finals.

Today Anastasia again found herself in trouble, down 3-6 in her semi final against Slovakian Tamara Zidansek.

In set two, Potapova gathered a cache of 12 break points as opposed to just 2 by Zidansek.  Both of those were converted by Zidansek, and she managed to save nine of the Potapova chances in a terrific defensive display.  However the one extra break was sufficient for Potapova to level the match 3-6 6-4.

Potapova broke twice in the decider, and saved the only break chances on her serve.  Sadly at 2-5, with the Russian ready to serve for the match, Zidansek was forced to retire due to illness, and the 17 year old won 3-6 6-4 5-2 (retired).

A teenage final between Olga Danilovic and Anastasia Potapova 

Hamburg:

Qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Nicolas Jarry 7-5 0-6 6-1

Leonardo Mayer defeated qualifier Jozef Kovalik 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(7), and will play Basilashvili in the final

This will be the third ATP final for Basilashvili and he will be hoping for his first win. Irrespective of the result, he will find himself in the top 50 after this, at a new career high.

Gstaad:

Matteo Berrettini defeated qualifier Jürgen Zopp 6-4 7-6(6)

Roberto Bautista Agut (2) defeated Laslo Djere 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4, and will play Berrettini in the final 

This is the first ATP final for Berrettini who was ranked outside the top 200 twelve months ago.  Now he is guaranteed to be at least in the top 70 after his efforts here.

Nanchang:

Saisai Zheng (6) defeated Lin Zhu 6-3 1-6 6-2

Qiang Wang (2) defeated Magda Linette (3) 7-5 6-2, and will play Zheng in the final.

This is the first WTA Tour final for both players.

Atlanta:

John Isner (1) defeated Matthew Ebden 6-4 6-7(6) 6-1

Ryan Harrison (8) defeated Cameron Norrie 2-6 6-3 6-2, and will play Isner in an all-American final.  Isner will be attempting to win his fifth Atlanta Open in his eighth final.