Kasatkina d Jabeur in Moscow thriller

The final in Moscow between Tunisian qualifier Ons Jabeur and Russian crowd favourite Dasha Kasatkina (6) was one of the best matches of the second half of 2018.

Jabeur hit 12 winners in a first set highlighted by excellent court coverage from both players, and shot making of the highest calibre.  Jabeur was just the better, firing bullet like forehands and returning brilliantly, occasionally Djokovic like.  Three service breaks and 6-2.

Kasatkina broke in the first game of set two, but Jabeur struck back with two breaks of her own, the second of these helped by an extraordinary backhand half volley, together with a backhand return-volley combo, and a forehand down the line screamer to seal it.

At 1-4, Dasha turned the match around, bringing a consistency of shot making into her game and forcing Ons into poor decision making, and rushed attempts to end points.  Her unforced error count grew alarmingly, especially from her backhand.

Three games on the trot for the Russian and Jabeur needed a good service game, which she provided, thanks to solid serving.

The eventual tie break was 3-3 with all points against serve, but from there Tunisian errors and a double fault presented the set to Kasatkina 7-6(3).

In the decider, the pair exchanged service breaks, before at 3-3 Kasatkina repeated hers and, with a consolidating hold, led 5-3.

Serving for the match, Dasha had the advantage of a clearly struggling opponent.  Ons bravely fought through what appeared to be a leg problem, and saved a match point, before amazingly breaking serve.

However, that just staved off the inevitable.  Barely able to walk to her receiving position, Ons Jabeur was virtually a spectacular as Dasha raced to 40-0.  

The match was quickly over, Dasha Kasatkina going one better than losing finalist here in 2017, claiming the Kremlin Cup 2-6 7-6(3) 6-4.

This was the second title for the 21 year old, who moves up two places to 12 in the rankings (10 in the WTA Race)

ATP Moscow semi finals 

• Adrian Mannarino defeated Andreas Seppi 7-5 7-5
• Wildcard Karen Khachanov (3) defeated Daniil Medvedev (2) 6-1 6-7(5) 6-3, and will play Adrian Mannarino in the final 

ATP Antwerp semi finals 

• Gaël Monfils (6) defeated Diego Schwartzman (2) 6-3 6-4
• Kyle Edmund (1) defeated Richard Gasquet (4) 6-3 6-4, and will play Gaël Monfils in the final 

ATP Stockholm semi finals 

• Qualifier Ernests Gulbis defeated John Isner 1-6 6-3 6-3, after losing the opening five games. This will be the first ATP Tour final for Gulbis since May 2014 in Nice.
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (3) defeated Fabio Fognini (2) 6-3 6-2, and will play Ernests Gulbis in the final 

WTA Luxembourg final 

• Julia Goerges (1) defeated qualifier Belinda Bencic 6-4 7-5

Bencic won 80% of points on her first serve in set one, but couldn’t handle the thunderbolts from the German racquet which landed first time - Goerges won 14 of 15 these points.

Only one break point was presented throughout a closely fought set and Julia converted it to take the lead.

Set two was another powerhouse serving exhibition from Goerges with 90% of points won on first delivery, and again no break points faced.

Of the five break points offered Goerges, only one was used effectively, but that was sufficient to win the set and match.

This was the second title in 2018 for Julia Goerges, the first way back in Auckland in January.  A third final was in Charleston where she lost to Kiki Bertens.  Apart from those, there were semis at Wimbledon, St Petersburg and New Haven.