Magic tennis in China, Austria semis

The semi finals in China and Austria produced some thrilling tennis, both from the tried and true, and the up and coming.

In Shanghai, it was one of each.  The first semi final pitted Novak Djokovic (2) against Sascha Zverev (4), and for the initial moments, the young German controlled the match, having Djokovic at 0-30 in one service game.

The Serb settled soon enough though, and he covered the court brilliantly, as he had done throughout the tournament, forcing Zverev into awkward positions on several occasions.

Sascha had held serve 29 times from 30 attempts coming into this clash, but the Djokovic pressure, both on return and in terms of depth and width in general play, resulted in two breaks of that previously solid delivery.

Novak led 6-2, and served first in set two.

Things didn’t change, and while Zverev tried a more aggressive approach, Djokovic simply replied with even better returns, angled and with precise placement, frustrating to the point of racquet destruction.

Inevitably it was also scoreboard destruction, Novak Djokovic winning through to his fourth Shanghai final, having won the other three.

6-2 6-1 in an hour of irresistible tennis from a man who has yet to drop serve this week, and will now move past Roger Federer to number two in the world rankings, irrespective of the second semi and the final results.

The second semi final opened with Borna Coric (13) aiming to repeat the result of his last meeting with Roger Federer (1), where he upset the Swiss maestro in Halle on grass in June this year.  The start was exactly that for which the Croatian had hoped, breaking Roger and consolidating.  2-0 with pounding forehands and a booming serve.

Federer quickly found rhythm on serve and was on the score sheet 1-2.

However, from the baseline Coric was rock solid and the top seed was unable to penetrate the 21 year old, Borna winning 80% of points on his serve as a result.

Federer held serve comfortably for the remainder of the set, but made no inroads on Coric who maintained the initial break to lead 6-4.

Set two was a repeat, Coric  forcing Federer into error on seemingly neutral points, and Roger surprisingly throwing in too many unforced mistakes, especially failing on the backhand.

The opening game saw serve dropped by Federer, and although he adapted his game, coming more often to the net, it was countered adequately by Coric who never faced a break point, and captured a famous victory 6-4 6-4.

A first final at this level for Borna Coric, who will climb to a new career high ranking of 13 (previously 18)

WTA Hong Kong semis

• 18 year old Dayana Yastremska, in main draw WTA performances prior to Hong Kong, had a best result in Istanbul last year where she made the quarter finals.

However, this was nothing compared to what she has achieved here this week.  After defeating qualifier Fanny Stollar in the opening round, Dayana has knocked off Saisai Zheng, Kristina Kucova and now Shuai Zhang to reach the final.

After her power game produced the first break of the match, Yastremska’s shots went astray and Zhang won four straight games, placement and depth acquitting her well.  Four double faults didn’t help Dayana.  

Nothing could deter the young Ukrainian from her game plan, and she bounced back as Zhang served for the set, with clean return sizzlers from either wing to break.

A huge forehand was dominant in a comeback which reaped five successive games to win the set for Yastremska 7-5.

Set two saw Zhang once again in the ascendancy, ahead 3-0, but she handed the break back with a double fault and careless forehand. 

At 3-3 40-0, the Chinese number two was the recipient of five blistering returns, three of which were clean winners, and suddenly Yastremska was ahead 4-3 with a break.

A stunning volley and down the line backhand highlighted a service hold and Dayana was a game away from the final.

After Zhang held on for 4-5, Yastremska did her bit, serving out to win 7-5 6-4, the final two points more winners.

41 winners in two sets of extraordinary tennis from a teenager with an exciting future.  

• Qiang Wang (6) defeated Garbiñe Muguruza (4) 6-7(5) 6-4 7-5, and will play Dayana Yastremska in the final

WTA Tianjin semis

• Wildcard Karolina Pliskova (1) defeated Timea Bacsinszky 6-2 6-1
• Caroline Garcia (2) defeated Su-Wei Hsieh (5) 6-3 6-4, and will play Karolina Pliskova in the final

WTA Linz semis

• Qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated wildcard Andrea Petkovic 0-6 6-4 6-0
• Camila Giorgi (5) defeated Alison Van Uytvanck 6-3 6-4, and will play Ekaterina Alexandrova in the final