Defending champion:
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (3) who defeated wildcard Dominika Cibulková (5) 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 7-6(6)
Quarter finals
- Monica Puig v wildcard Aryna Sabalenka (2)
Puig won the only previous meeting between the pair, earlier this year in Charleston in straight sets, but the Puerto Rican was slow to start in this quarter final, broken in the second game. Puig gathered two game points, but failed to convert either, firstly netting a a backhand, and then over hitting a basic forehand when at the net. Sabalenka gained a break point when Puig sent a backhand wide, and the Belarusian was ahead 2-0 after the last backhand sailed long.
Sabalenka consolidated the break to lead 3-0, but it was no easy exercise. A Puig forehand return winner and backhand winner followed a Sabalenka ace for 15-30. A lethal cross court backhand forced an error from Sabalenka and break point. It was saved thanks to a stunning Sabalenka backhand down the line winner. A double fault presented Puig with a second chance but the Belarusian backhand again saved the day. A couple of big serves confirmed the service hold.
4-1 arrived with no stress on the server, but Sabalenka struck in the sixth game. Sabalenka’s depth in her backhand return caused Puig to lose control over her response and it was followed by yet another loose Puerto Rican backhand. Puig restored her position to 30-30 with an off forehand winner and a service winner, but a pair of poor forehands gifted the break to a storming Sabalenka who walked to the line at 5-1, serving for the set.
An ace the perfect start, and while Puig powered a brilliant forehand return winner for 15-15, that was it from her racquet. A Puig netted forehand and another Sabalenka ace produced two set points. A third ace for the game sealed the set 6-1.
After reaching game point on three separate occasions in the opening game of set two, Puig was ultimately broken, and Sabalenka held comfortably, cruising to a 2-0 advantage. In another lengthy game, Puig let slip a 40-15 lead and had to save a break point. She held on, using her third game point but still was behind the eight ball.
Sabalenka won the opening point of game four with an effective serve, but an equally effective backhand return caused distress for the second seed. A forehand winner seemed to keep things on track for Sabalenka, but a backhand failure and double fault donated a break point to Puig. A netted Belarusian backhand sealed the game, and it was 2-2.
Sabalenka immediately halted the charge from Puig by breaking straight back, mainly due to errors, but including a savage winning forehand from Belarus.
Then a surprise twist. Down a set and with Sabalenka to serve at 3-2, Puig won four successive games, breaking Sabalenka twice in the process to win the set 6-3 and tie the match.
Sabalenka, disappointed with her disappearance in the second half of set two, found her mojo in the decider, winning 19 of the first 25 points, including three straight love games (one of those to break the Puig serve), and led 4-1.
Serving in the sixth game, Puig was subject to a wicked forehand return winner. A double fault and a netted backhand produced two break points. These were saved, but a third wasn’t, when another backhand found the base of the net.
Sabalenka at 5-1 served for the match but from 30-30, a couple of double faults kept the match going.
Puig served to remain in the contest, and led 30-15. A backhand winner from Sabalenka and a Puig overhead crashing into the net brought up the first match point. An ace saved it. Another one gave her game point which she wasted with an unforced error. A second match point was converted when Puig sent a backhand out of court.
Aryna Sabalenka won 6-1 3-6 6-2.
- Chloe Paquet defeated Daria Gavrilova 6-3 7-6(1)
- Caroline Garcia (4) defeated qualifier Marta Kostyuk 3-6 6-3 6-2
- Dayana Yastremska (6) defeated Fiona Ferro 6-1 6-3
Semi final match ups
Chloe Paquet v Caroline Garcia (4)
Dayana Yastremska (6) v wildcard Aryna Sabalenka (2)
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