First matches won in Zhuhai

The first round robin matches have been played in Zhuhai for the Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy.

ORCHID GROUP 

Aryna Sabalenka (3) defeated Ash Barty (9) 6-4 6-4

ROSE GROUP 

Elise Mertens (4) defeated Anett Kontaveit (10) 6-3 6-1

AZALEA GROUP

Dasha Kasatkina (1) defeated Qiang Wang (11) 6-1 2-6 7-5 in a match featuring multiple lengthy rallies where both players fired cross court shots off both wings and often closed out points with winners.  The only problem was holding serve. Six of the eight games in set two were service breaks, and after two service holds in the decider, nine games in succession were awarded to the receiver.

Kasatkina served for the match at 5-4 and couldn’t manage the task, but at 6-5 she finally broke the sequence and won an entertaining clash.

In the doubles:

BOUGAINVILLEA GROUP 

Lyudmyla Kichenok / Nadiia Kichenok (3) defeated wildcards Xinyu Jiang / Zhaoxuan Yang (5) 7-6(9) 3-6 11-9

In the doubles, if sets one and two are shared, a tie break decides the match - first team to 10 points, with a two point break.

Today features more round robin matches 

• Julia Goerges (5) v Anett Kontaveit (10)
• Dasha Kasatkina (1) v Madison Keys (6)
• Garbiñe Muguruza (7) v wildcard Shuai Zhang (12)
• Mihaela Buzarnescu / Alicja Rosolska (1) v Shuko Aoyama / Lidziya Marozava (4) (from the LILY group)

5 French players lose in Paris

The first round matches in the Rolex Paris Masters were completed, and four second round matches played.

First round results

• Fernando Verdasco defeated Jérémy Chardy 6-4 6-4.  This sets up a second round clash with Fernando’s good friend and fellow Spaniard Rafa Nadal 
• Daniil Medvedev defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2 6-2
• Gilles Simon defeated Lucas Pouille 6-3 6-4
• Mikhail Kukushkin defeated wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert 3-6 6-3 7-5
• Marton Fucsovics defeated qualifier Benoit Paire 6-4 6-4
• Milos Raonic defeated wildcard Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in an exciting match where serve was not broken in nearly three hours, the Canadian victorious 6-7(4) 7-6(5) 7-6(5).

Not a great day for French players in their capital, with five defeated.  One of those was in an all French battle, so there was one winner for the day, Gilles Simon.

Second round results 

• Karen Khachanov defeated lucky loser Matthew Ebden 6-2 2-0 (retired)
• Marin Cilic (5) defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-4
• Damir Dzumhur defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (14) 6-3 6-3
• Novak Djokovic (2) defeated qualifier João Sousa 7-5 6-1

Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, and Sascha Zverev will be on court tomorrow in second round matches, following opening round byes.

WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai

Those women ranked just below the elite who contested the WTA Finals in Singapore, are competing in Zhuhai, China for the Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy.

The twelve players are split into four groups (seeded as shown)

AZALEA 

Dasha Kasatkina (1)

Madison Keys (6)

Qiang Wang (11)

CAMELLIA

Anastasija Sevastova (2)

Garbiñe Muguruza (7)

Shuai Zhang (12)

ORCHID 

Aryna Sabalenka (3)

Caroline Garcia (8)

Ash Barty (9)

ROSE

Elise Mertens (4)

Julia Goerges (5)

Anett Kontaveit (10)

Winners from each group will be semi finalists and from there a champion will eventually be decided.

A doubles tournament is run in conjunction with the singles event - two groups of three teams, LILY and BOUGAINVILLEA 

Today features the first round robin matches 

• Aryna Sabalenka (3) v Ash Barty (9)
• Elise Mertens (4) v Anett Kontaveit (10)
• Dasha Kasatkina (1) v Qiang Wang (11) 
• Lyudmyla Kichenok / Nadiia Kichenok (3) v Xinyu Jiang / Zhaoxuan Yang (5) (from the BOUGAINVILLEA group)

Early Paris results

Kyle Edmund was seeded 12 in the Rolex Paris Masters, but his late withdrawal enabled lucky loser Matthew Ebden to enter the main draw, and inherit the first round bye.

First round results from Paris 

• Qualifier Feliciano López defeated Alex de Minaur 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(6) in a tick under three hours
• Karen Khachanov defeated Filip Krajinovic 7-5 6-2
• Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated John Millman 6-4 (retired)
• Adrian Mannarino defeated wildcard Ugo Humbert 6-4 6-2
• Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated qualifier Robin Haase 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2
• Roberto Bautista Agut defeated Steve Johnson 6-4 7-6(2)
• Damir Dzumhur defeated qualifier Peter Gojowczyk 6-4 7-6(5)
• Qualifier João Sousa defeated Marco Cecchinato 7-5 6-3
• Richard Gasquet defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-4 7-6(3)
• Frances Tiafoe defeated qualifier Nicolas Mahut 7-6(1) 6-2

Novak Djokovic, Marin Cilic and Stéfanos Tsitsipas begin their campaigns tomorrow after first round byes.

Paris Masters begins this week

The final Masters 1000 tournament for 2018 begins this week in Paris, and two events leading into Paris have just concluded.

The Erste Bank Open 500 in Vienna was won by Kevin Anderson (2) who defeated Kei Nishikori (5) 6-3 7-6(3)

The Swiss Indoor Basel was won by Roger Federer (1) who defeated qualifier Marius Copil 7-6(5) 6-4

The Rolex Paris Masters is indoors on Hard GreenSet, and the top seed is Rafa Nadal, the world number one.

The main draw includes 33 of the worlds top 40.  Five of the seven not in the mix are missing through injury - Juan Martin del Potro, David Goffin, Hyeon Chung, Gaël Monfils and Nick Kyrgios.  The other two lost in qualifying - Andreas Seppi and Matthew Ebden.

The sixteen seeds are from the top 18 ranked players, and all have first round byes.

The quarter finals, as per the seedings are expected to be:

• Rafa Nadal (1) v Dominic Thiem (6) 

Last meeting - Nadal d Thiem at the US Open in September 2018, 0-6 6-4 7-5 6-7(4) 7-6(5)

• Sascha Zverev (4) v John Isner (8)

Last meeting - Zverev d Isner in Madrid in May 2018, 6-4 7-5

• Kevin Anderson (7) v Roger Federer (3)

Last meeting - Anderson defeated Federer at Wimbledon in July 2018, 2-6 6-7(5) 7-5 6-4 13-11

• Marin Cilic (5) v Novak Djokovic (2)

Last meeting - Djokovic defeated Cilic in Cincinnati in August 2018, 6-4 3-6

Svitolina wins WTA Finals

The finalists in the BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore were Sloane Stephens (5) and Elina Svitolina (6).

Stephens was making her first appearance in this event, and Svitolina just her second, and both had not lost a match in reaching the final.

Head to head, the pair shared wins in 2014, but the battle of note was in Montreal this August where Stephens prevailed in the semi finals.

None of that mattered when they hit the Singapore court, and the American broke Svitolina to love, leading 2-0.

Two break points were saved by sound forward moves from Stephens and she finally held for 3-0 - Svitolina had invested some fine forehands into the match, but without any return.

Stephens created three chances for a double break, but a rare forehand mistake cost her, and Svitolina fought her way out of trouble to finally register a score.

Stephens was pushing Svitolina to the corners at every opportunity, and the Ukrainian was facing another break point in the sixth game.

Svitolina saved this one after a long rally and trailed 2-4.

As the quality of the match increased, so did the power hitting.  Stephens needed it to ward off two break points and lead 5-2.

Serving for the set, Sloane was successful, and led 6-3.  The scoreline belied the closeness of the contest on court.

An attacking Svitolina was the beneficiary of the first break point of set two in the fourth game, after some loose Stephens baseline shots.  It was the forehand that ultimately cost her the serve, and Elina led 3-1.

Stephens pressed hard to achieve the break back, and it came on the third chance.

A determined Svitolina sent a backhand past a helpless American racquet on break point in the sixth game, and the third dropped serve in succession saw Elina ahead 4-2.

From 0-30, Svitolina held with strength, and then broke Stephens on the second set point.  6-2, and a third set was required.  Appropriate after such a tremendous battle.  Unforced errors undid the otherwise excellent work of Stephens in set two.

In game two of the decider, Stephens saved two break points, but the stern defence of Svitolina helped create a third. The speed to reach a Stephens net cord, then produce a winning drop shot was breathtaking.  2-0 Svitolina.

It took ten minutes, and the saving of three break points, before Svitolina could consolidate her position at 3-0.

Innovative approaches to points assisted Elina, including visiting the net to put away winning volleys, leaving a disconsolate Stephens on the baseline.

A burst of the renowned Stephens power put some doubt back into the Ukrainian camp.  Sloane ripped through her service game without dropping a point, then broke the Svitolina serve in similar fashion, surrendering a single point.  2-3 and back on serve.

The burst couldn’t be sustained however, and a calm Svitolina broke the American serve again.  

On game point at 4-2, Svitolina passed Stephens with a brilliant cross court backhand, to be one game away from the title.

On match points Stephens pushed a backhand wide and Elina Svitolina won the Billie Jean King trophy 3-6 6-2 6-2.

The first player to be undefeated in the tournament since Serena Williams in 2013.

Elina has won her last 9 finals, and will end the year ranked number four, her highest year end finish.

She defeated the following players en route to her biggest ever title:

Petra Kvitová 

Karolina Pliskova 

Caroline Wozniacki 

Kiki Bertens 

Sloane Stephens

A remarkable achievement indeed, and a terrific performance too by Sloane Stephens in a memorable final.

Copil shocks Zverev in Basel

The semi finals in both Vienna and Basel have been played.

ATP Vienna semi finals 

• Kei Nishikori (5) defeated qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4 6-3
• Kevin Anderson (2) defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-3 3-6 6-4

Anderson broke serve early and was soon leading 3-0 in the opening set. Verdasco quickly improved his service statistics, and both players won 83% of points on their first deliveries for the set.  The one break point which Anderson had converted was the only one seen and the South African was able to coast to a 6-3 lead.

Set two saw six break points, three apiece, and three consecutive dropped serves. Verdasco managed to break Anderson in two of these games, returning far more effectively than in set one.  Prior to this match, Anderson had surrendered his huge serve just once in 29 goes in the tournament.  

Verdasco levelled the match, serving out for 6-3.

In the decider, Anderson was feeding off the Spanish second serve, but couldn’t convert any of his five break opportunities, and games went to serve nine times.

Serving to stay in the match, Fernando was faced with a dominant Anderson forehand and successive returns put the Spaniard in trouble.   

A match point arrived and Kevin Anderson used it wisely to break Verdasco and win 6-3 3-6 6-4

The final against Kei Nishikori should be a beauty, with both players in top form.

ATP Basel semi finals 

• Roger Federer (1) defeated Daniil Medvedev (7) 6-1 6-4
• Qualifier Marius Copil defeated Sascha Zverev (2) 6-3 6-7(6) 6-4

The Romanian confused Zverev with an aggressive approach, including a balance between affective serve volley and variety from the baseline.

Even after letting slip a set lead and 4-2 in the second set tie break, Copil stood strong.  He served 10 aces in the decider, and won 17 of 18 points on his first delivery.

Only one break point was available, and it was presented to Copil who converted.  Enough to win the match.

Ranked 93 before this tournament, and with a career high of 73, Copil had never made an ATP Tour semi final until this year.

Now he has made two finals, the first in Sofia in February 2018.

He is the first qualifier to reach the Basel final since Marcos Baghdatis in  2005.

Until this week, all of Copil’s six matches against top ten opponents had resulted in defeat - he has improved that record to 2 from 8, knocking out Marin Cilic and Sascha Zverev, world numbers 6 and 5 respectively.

Copil hadn’t beaten a top 20 player since 2014.

His ranking will jump 33 spots to 60, and if he can produce an unlikely win against Roger Federer in the final, he would be number 43.

Svitolina, Stephens win Singapore semis

The final of the WTA Finals in Singapore will feature the two players who have bean undefeated in their respective paths to the ultimate match.

Semi Finals 

Elina Svitolina (6) v Kiki Bertens (8)

After three service holds in the opening set, Svitolina broke the Bertens serve for 3-1.

 Bertens, with great width and depth from her forehand, broke back immediately, and consolidated.  3-3 after a winning drop shot.

At 4-5 and 40-15, Bertens appeared ready to level again, but Svitolina rattled off four straight points and held a set point.

However rallying to the Dutch forehand is dangerous, and Bertens was able to escape the set point and eventually hold.

At 5-6, Bertens contributed a number of errors from the baseline, and on set point double faulted.  Svitolina led 7-5

After a backhand failure towards the end of set one, Bertens resurrected the shot and used it on break point in game one of set two.

A fast consolidation and Kiki led 2-0.

The pair held serve for the next four games, Bertens doing it easier.  The seventh game featured a 29 shot rally, finished with a Ukrainian backhand winner down the line.

At 30-30, Bertens served an ace, and a forehand confirmed a 5-3 lead.

Svitolina saved a set point in the ninth game, and saved three more when Bertens served for the set.  Errors cost the Dutch player and it was 5-5.

After nine straight points, Elina led 6-5, and three successive Bertens winners ensured a tie break.

Svitolina led 2-0, but lost four consecutive points in the tie break.  At 4-5 Elina’s superb backhand levelled things. Bertens steadied, winning the final two points, and the set 7-6(5)

Svitolina, with speed and great defence, broke Bertens in the opening game of set three, only to see her own serve lost on the fourth try, in a thirteen minute second game.

Bertens used a stunning drop shot to save a break point, but then two backhand errors cost her, and a third successive dropped serve had Svitolina ahead 2-1.

No more break points as the players reached 4-3, Svitolina next to serve, the sixth and seventh games served to love.

Serving for a finals berth, Svitolina defended a break point grimly as Bertens pounded her with backhands.  It was saved, as was another, after a lengthy rally.

Finally, Elina Svitolina held serve to win an entertaining semi final 7-5 6-7(5) 6-4

Sloane Stephens (5) v Karolina Pliskova (7)

The two had met three times previously, Stephens winning in 2012 and 2015, but Pliskova successful this year on clay in Madrid.

It was Pliskova making the running from the outset, holding serve from deuce, then breaking the Stephens serve with confident baseline shots.

Stephens defended well and earned a break point, which was saved by Pliskova, who was using all the court to her advantage.

The power and poise with which Pliskova was playing drew another break point from Stephens, and the American double faulted.

4-0 became 5-0 quickly, and Stephens dropped serve a third time to give Karolina Pliskova a remarkable 6-0 lead.

Set two began with no mercy for the American - Pliskova saved a break point in the opening game, then hit a set of brilliant backhands to crack the Stephens serve and win an eighth successive game.  2-0.

Leading 40-15, Pliskova let Stephens off the hook, and lost serve.

This was enough to let Sloane back in the match.  She staved off a break point, then a forehand winner and ace sealed a service game for 2-2.

Three breaks of serve followed, and Stephens held the lead 4-3.

At 5-4, Stephens comfortably served out the set and the match was even, incredible after Pliskova led 6-0 2-0.

Stephens kept up the momentum, breaking Pliskova in the opening game of the decider.  The Czech player broke back, but Stephens was relentless, and her consistent defence led to a break point in the fifth game. Pliskova double faulted and trailed 1-4.

Holding to love, then breaking Pliskova a third time, Sloane Stephens won incredibly 0-6 6-4 6-1

Simon pushes Federer to limit

The quarter finals in both Vienna and Basel have been played, with a few surprises

ATP Basel

Quarter finals 

• Qualifier Marius Copil defeated wildcard Taylor Fritz 7-6(6) 7-5
• Sascha Zverev (2) defeated Roberto Bautista Agut (8) 7-5 6-3
• Roger Federer (1) is struggling to find his best form, and although he defeated Gilles Simon, it took three sets.   

Simon led 5-2 in the first, and was serving for it at 5-3 but was broken.  He had a set point at 5-4 before an ace from Federer erased that, and the top seed eventually took the set in a tie break.

Federer was broken three times in the second set, the third allowing Simon to level the match.  And in the decider, Roger let a 4-1 lead slip, broken In the sixth game by the Frenchman.

Gilles had a first serve percentage less than fifty, yet was able to match it with Roger, so while the Swiss ace was travelling at slightly below top gear, Simon was playing possibly his best tennis for some time.

Federer escaped with the win, breaking Simon in the tenth game when Gilles had a 40-15 lead.

7-6(1) 4-6 6-4, but it will require something better in Paris - he is drawn to play Anderson in the quarters and Djokovic in the semis there

• Daniil Medvedev (7) defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (4) 6-4 3-6 6-3, and will play Roger Federer in the semis 

ATP Vienna 

Quarter finals 

• Kei Nishikori (5) defeated Dominic Thiem (1) 6-3 6-1
• Qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin defeated Marton Fucsovics 4-6 7-6(2) 7-6(4), and will play Kei Nishikori in the semis 
• Kevin Anderson (2) defeated Borna Coric (6) 7-6(2) 1-2 (retired)
• Fernando Verdasco defeated Gaël Monfils 6-4 2-1 (retired), and will play Kevin Anderson in the semis

Stephens, Bertens In Singapore semis

The WTA Finals in Singapore has reached the semi final stage, with the final two round robin matches in the Red Group played

Red Group (as seeded)

Angie Kerber (1)

Naomi Osaka (3)

Sloane Stephens (5)

Kiki Bertens (8)

White Group (as seeded)

Caroline Wozniacki (2)

Petra Kvitová (4)

Elina Svitolina (6)

Karolina Pliskova (7)

Results (Red Group)

• Naomi Osaka (3) v Kiki Bertens (8)

Osaka survived three Bertens winners and a break point to win the opening game.  Bertens replied with big serving to level at 1-1.

An ace sealed an easier service game for Osaka who led 2-1, and Bertens had to visit deuce a couple of times before settling at 2-2.

Two straightforward holds and 3-3, before the first significant moment of the match.  

Naomi found the net twice for 0-30, and a wide backhand brought up three break points for Kiki.  Another loose backhand and the break occurred.  Of more importance, Osaka was now suffering with injury to her leg.

Bertens consolidated, holding to love, thanks mainly to Osaka errors.

A medical time out for Osaka delayed resumption of play for ten minutes.

Osaka double faulted on the first point back, and a Bertens backhand winner gave her three set points.

Another double fault and Bertens won the set 6-3.

Sadly, Naomi couldn’t continue and retired, meaning Kiki Bertens was the first player in the Red Group through to the semis.

• Angie Kerber (1) v Sloane Stephens (5)

Angie defeated Sloane at Indian Wells in 2012, but Sloane was only about to turn 19 and was ranked 90 in the world.  Angie was a top 20 player.  The pair have met four times since, once each year from 2015 onwards, and the American has been successful on all occasions, including Miami this year.

Great forehands helped Stephens escape two break points to level at 1-1 in the opening set.  Kerber replied with winning forehands of her own and it was 2-1 in a classy start.

Stephens was making it hard on herself though, needing to save three more break points, Kerber showing the crowd a variety of stunning shots to place continued pressure on her opponent.

Still it was even on the scoreboard.

Stephens returned her way to two break points, and it was Kerber who suffered the first loss of serve - her drop shot was successfully chased down and Stephens jumped for the overhead smash winner. 3-1

True to form, two further break chances were wasted by Kerber, who slipped to 2-4.  Frustrated by her inability to convert seven chances, and maybe an ankle problem developed in the sixth game, Angie dropped another serve, this time to love.

Finally, when Stephens served for the set, Kerber grabbed her eighth break point and used it.  Down 3-5, but back with a chance.

Stephens snuffed it out by breaking immediately for the third time and taking the set 6-3.

In a role reversal, it was Kerber saving break points early in set two.  She held serve after saving one in the second game, then fought off seven in an epic fourth game.  Unfortunately, eight was a bridge too far, and a drop shot found the net.  Stephens led by a set and a break.

The Kerber resilience is to be admired, as she played her way back with smart baseline tennis, breaking and consolidating for 3-3.

Despite saving three more break points, Kerber relented on the fourth with a tired forehand only hitting the net.

Sloane Stephens served the match out 6-3 6-3, and won the final spot in the semis, topping the Red Group undefeated.

She will play Karolina Pliskova and Kiki Bertens will play Elina Svitolina

Points after Day Five

• Red Group
• Stephens 750 - First in group and semi finalist
• Bertens 625 - Second in group and semi finalist
• Kerber 500 - eliminated
• Osaka 375 - eliminated             

• White Group
• Svitolina 750 - First in group and semi finalist
• Pliskova 625 - Second in group and semi finalist
• Wozniacki 500 - eliminated 
• Kvitová 375 - eliminated

Quarter finals set in Basel, Vienna

The second round in both Vienna and Basel was completed, setting up the quarter finals in each tournament. 

ATP Basel

Second round matches 

• Stefanos Tsitsipas (4) defeated Peter Gojowczyk 6-3 6-1
• Daniil Medvedev (7) defeated Andreas Seppi 7-6(5) 6-2, and will play Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter finals 
• Roberto Bautista Agut (8) defeated Lucky loser Dusan Lajovic 6-7(6) 6-3 6-3
• Sascha Zverev (2) defeated qualifier Alexei Popyrin 6-4 6-4, and will play Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarter finals 
• Roger Federer (1) defeated Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3 7-5
• Gilles Simon defeated Ernests Gulbis 7-6(4) 7-6(0), and will play Roger Federer in the quarter finals 

ATP Vienna 

Second round matches 

• Dominic Thiem (1) defeated Sam Querrey 6-4 6-4
• Kei Nishikori (5) defeated Karen Khachanov 6-2 6-2, and will play Dominic Thiem in the quarter finals 
• Qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin defeated lucky loser Andrey Rublev 7-6(4) 6-4, and will play Márton Fucsovics in the quarter finals 
• Fernando Verdasco defeated Kyle Edmund (8) 6-4 3-6 6-3
• Gaël Monfils defeated John Isner (4) 6-4 6-4! And will play Fernando Verdasco in the second of two unseeded quarter finals

Svitolina, Pliskova in Singapore semis

The WTA Finals in Singapore have given us some wonderful tennis, and the final two round robin matches in the White Group promised more.

Red Group (as seeded)

Angie Kerber (1)

Naomi Osaka (3)

Sloane Stephens (5)

Kiki Bertens (8)

White Group (as seeded)

Caroline Wozniacki (2)

Petra Kvitová (4)

Elina Svitolina (6)

Karolina Pliskova (7)

Results (White Group)

• Petra Kvitová (4) v Karolina Pliskova (7)

It was an all Czech battle in the this match, with Karolina Pliskova attempting to defeat Petra Kvitová for the first time.  Karolina broke the Petra serve immediately, although it was actually a Kvitová donation of three double faults that caused the outcome.

Happy with that, Pliskova enjoyed another break in the fourth game, sealed with a return winner. 4-0 and the opening set ripped asunder.

Kvitová recovered somewhat, and following five deuces, broke the Pliskova serve.  Then down 0-40, the dual Wimbledon champion cashed in on Pliskova errors to save the break points and reach 2-4.

Pliskova used depth of shot to regain control, and serves were held until the set was won 6-3.  Kvitová needed to win in straight sets to remain in contention for a semi final spot so that hope was now gone.

Playing for pride in set two, Kvitová hit two winners to hold serve, then a terrific drop shot gave her a break point which she converted for a 2-0 lead.

Pliskova was being hounded by huge returns from the Kvitová racquet, and was down 15-40 in the fourth game, but some big serving, including her first ace, saved the day, and she trailed 1-3.

Three successive service breaks and Pliskova found herself back on track.  A strong service game consolidated her comeback at 4-4.

The final surge was complete as Karolina Pliskova’s fourth straight game resulted in her first ever victory over compatriot Petra Kvitová 6-3 6-4.

Pliskova is the first player through to the semi finals, and will top the White Group should Wozniacki defeat Svitolina.

• Caroline Wozniacki (2) v Elina Svitolina (6)

In possibly the most competitive and watchable matches played so far in the tournament, Caroline Wozniacki needed to win the first set to remain in contention for a semi final berth.  Just one set for Elina Svitolina would seal for her and Karolina Pliskova semi final spots, and Wozniacki would be eliminated, even if she won the match.

Svitolina saved multiple break points to start the match, but was unable to hold off Wozniacki in game three of set one, where on break point she failed to put away a short Danish lob.

Wozniacki was pushing Svitolina to all parts of the court, and her defence was immaculate, making the Ukrainian play extra shots every time.

The long rallies continued, and serves were held until game eight, where at 30-30 Svitolina hit two winners to break back for 4-4

With more aggression, and moving to the middle of the court to control the points, Wozniacki achieved another break to lead 6-5, and she served it out, remaining alive in the tournament.

Wozniacki passed Svitolina at the net to break and lead 2-1 in set two, but was immediately broken back.  

No trouble at the line for the next five games, and Wozniacki served at 4-5 to stay in the set.  She accommodated, to love.

At 5-6, she couldn’t repeat the trick, saving four set points but not the fifth, handing the set to Svitolina and confirming for Elina a semi final spot.  Wozniacki could no longer defend her 2017 WTA Finals title.

Wozniacki, like Kvitová, was playing purely for pride, ranking points, and dollars in the decider.  She matched Svitolina through the first seven games without a service break.  That came in the eighth game where the Wozniacki backhand broke down.  A sizzling Svitolina return earned the break and a chance to serve for the match.

A lovely drop shot on her third match point, and Elina Svitolina won her third match out of three 5-7 7-5 6-3

Points after Day Four

• Red Group
• Stephens 500
• Bertens 375
• Kerber 375
• Osaka 250            

• White Group
• Svitolina 750 - First in group and semi finalist
• Pliskova 625 - Second in group and semi finalist
• Wozniacki 500 - eliminated 
• Kvitová 375 - eliminated

Dimitrov, Cilic dumped in Europe

The first round in both Vienna and Basel was completed, and a few second round matches were also played. 

Two seeds fell in each tournament 

ATP Basel

First round matches 

• Ernests Gulbis defeated wildcard Jack Sock (5) 7-5 6-4
• Roberto Bautista Agut (8) defeated João Sousa 6-4 6-3
• Lucky loser Dusan Lajovic defeated Adrian Mannarino 6-7(4) 6-1 6-2
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (4) defeated Jérémy Chardy 6-2 7-6(3)
• Sascha Zverev (2) defeated Robin Haase 6-4 7-5

Second round matches

• Wildcard Taylor Fritz defeated wildcard Henri Laaksonen 6-2 7-5
• Qualifier Marius Copil defeated Marin Cilic (3) 7-5 7-6(2)

ATP Vienna 

First round matches

• Karen Khachanov defeated wildcard Dennis Novak 6-3 7-5
• Kyle Edmund (8) defeated Diego Schwartzman 6-3 7-6(3)
• Gaël Monfils defeated Steve Johnson 4-6 6-3 6-2

Monfils struck 18 aces and won 80% of points on his first delivery in a dominant serving performance 

• Qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin defeated Grigor Dimitrov (3) 6-4 4-6 6-4

This was the first win over a top ten player for Kukushkin in four years, and only the third from 36 tries.  He won 73% of points on serve and saved eight of nine break points.

He could have made things easier on himself had he converted more of the chances presented to him - 2 from 18 is not the best return.

Second round matches 

• Marton Fucsovics defeated Fabio Fognini (7) 4-6 6-3 6-2
• Kevin Anderson (2) received a walkover from wildcard Jürgen Melzer 
• Borna Coric (6) defeated Lucas Pouille 4-6 6-0 6-4