Defending champion:
Simona Halep (1) who defeated Sloane Stephens (3) 7-6(6) 3-6 6-4
Semi finals
Sofia Kenin v Bianca Andreescu
The unseeded pair had met three times previously, with Andreescu ahead 2-1. Two of those matches were this year, Kenin prevailing in Acapulco and Andreescu in Miami.
Andreescu served first, and the Canadian teenager was passed by a Kenin forehand before replying with an ace. A double fault was a minor blip as the home nation crowd enjoyed a comfortable service hold, aided by a series of American errors.
Kenin drew level at 1-1, surviving a trip to deuce in the process. Another forehand winner reminded everyone how dangerous the Barty beater could be.
Andreescu raced to 2-1, delivering a backhand winner, and two drop shot surprises, one from each side.
2-2, with errors flowing from the Canadian racquet, mostly forced.
The first break point arrived in the sixth game, when after leading 30-15, Kenin hit a backhand long and was then victim to an Andreescu forehand winner. That danger was averted with a terrific serve. A second break chance was saved when Andreescu mishit a forehand. Kenin held eventually for 3-3.
Kenin saved a further break point in the eighth game and it was 4-4.
Andreescu faced trouble in the very next game when down 15-40. Great defence and a forehand winner saved the first break point, and a forehand taken out of the air for another winner brought it to deuce. A backhand winner down the line and a touch volley sealed the game and a 5-4 lead.
Serving to stay in the set, Kenin won the first point when Andreescu hit a forehand out of court. A backhand return winner and 15-15. A pair of backhand misses from Kenin and two set points for the Canadian. After controlling a quality rally, Andreescu put away a simple shot into open court to take the set 6-4.
1-1 in set two after two service holds. Then a number of break opportunities. Kenin converted the second of two break points to lead 2-1, only to see a 30-0 lead evaporate, and her serve dropped immediately for 2-2. Andreescu let slip a 40-15 lead, and had to survive two break points before holding and moving ahead 3-2.
For the second service game in a row, Kenin led 30-0, but was broken, and Andreescu was close to the finish 4-2.
Serving for the match at 5-3, Andreescu hit a forehand winner for 15-15. Then two errors gave Kenin a chance to break back. Another error, off the forehand, donated the break to Kenin who now trailed 4-5.
Serving to stay in the match at 4-6 5-6, Kenin endured a 20 point game, saving three match points, and visiting deuce seven times. A tie break would decide the set.
Andreescu won the first point against serve in the tie break to lead 4-2, and at 5-3 had a serve to come. Kenin brought it back to 4-5 with two of her own serves to come, but lost the first of those and Andreescu had two more match points.
On her fifth match point at 6-5, and after a searching rally, a backhand winner clinched victory for Bianca Andreescu 6-4 7-6(5).
Serena Williams (8) defeated qualifier Marie Bouzkova 1-6 6-3 6-3, and will play Bianca Andreescu in the final.
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