Sevastova holds off Zvonareva in Moscow

Disappointing to see Simona Halep having to withdraw from the WTA Finals in Singapore.  The world number one has had a great season, her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros the biggest achievement.

However, it does give Kiki Bertens the opportunity to compete with the other seven women in what should be a terrific competition.

Meanwhile, tournaments in Europe are reaching the middle to closing stages.

Moscow

ATP 

Second round

• Filip Krajinovic (4) defeated Evgeny Donskoy 7-5 6-4
• Andreas Seppi defeated Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-6(6) 7-6(5), and will play Filip Krajinovic in the quarter finals 
• Mirza Basic received a walkover from wildcard Nick Kyrgios (5), and will play Karen Khachanov in the quarter finals 
• Daniil Medvedev (2) defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-2 6-1, and will play Ricardas Berankis in the quarter finals 

WTA 

Quarter finals

• After a great victory over Karolina Pliskova, qualifier and former world number two, Vera Zvonareva began her quarter final against Anastasija Sevastova confidently, unafraid of moving forward, and successfully winning most points at the net.  

While the Russian backhand volleys were impressive, the Latvian forehands and drop shots were too strong, helping Anastasija to an eventual service break and a 4-3 lead.

Zvonareva replied in kind, taking the final three games of set one and the advantage 6-4.

Set two saw Sevastova take back the momentum, contributing some innovative shot making, half volleying and passing Vera into confusion.  2-0 formed a sound basis but Zvonareva tested how solid it was, taking Sevastova to deuce in four successive service games.  The relentless pressure ultimately told when Anastasija served for the set at 5-4, and was broken.

However, the Latvian forehand came to the fore once more, and Sevastova won 16 of the next 17 points, which included taking set two 7-5 and leading the decider with a break.

Although Zvonareva broke back for 3-3, Sevastova remained composed, closing out the final three games to win 4-6 7-5 6-3.

• Qualifier Ons Jabeur defeated Anett Kontaveit (8) 7-5 6-1, and will play Anastasija Sevastova in the semis 
• Johanna Konta defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2 2-6 7-6(2)
• Daria Kasatkina (6) defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 6-3, and will play Johanna Konta in the semis 

ATP Antwerp 

Second round 

• Qualifier Ilya Ivashka defeated lucky loser Salvatore Caruso 6-3 6-7(8) 7-5
• Gaël Monfils (6) defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 3-6 6-4, and will play Vasek Pospisil in the quarter finals 
• Diego Schwartzman (2) defeated Cameron Norrie 7-6(1) 6-7(3) 7-5, and will play Gilles Simon in the quarter finals 
• Kyle Edmund (1) defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-0 6-2, and will play Ilya Ivashka in the quarter finals 

ATP Stockholm 

Second round 

• Tennys Sandgren defeated qualifier Oscar Otte 7-6(4) 3-6 6-3
• Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated Fernando Verdasco (8) 4-6 7-5 7-6(5), and will play Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter finals 
• Fabio Fognini (2) defeated Lukas Lacko 6-4 6-4, and will play Hyeon Chung in the quarter finals 
• John Isner (1) defeated Bradley Klahn 7-6(2) 6-7(5) 7-6(5), and will play Tennys Sandgren in the quarter finals 
• Qualifier Ernests Gulbis defeated Denis Shapovalov (7) 6-2 6-4, and will play Jack Sock in the quarter finals 

WTA Luxembourg 

Quarter finals 

• Julia Goerges (1) defeated Donna Vekic (6) 6-3 3-6 6-3
• Qualifier Eugenie Bouchard defeated Andrea Petkovic 4-6 4-0 (retired), and will play Julia Goerges in the semis
• Qualifier Belinda Bencic defeated Vera Lapko 6-4 6-1
• Dayana Yastremska defeated Margarita Gasparyan 6-1 6-4, and will play Belinda Bencic in the semis