Defending champion:
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (3) who defeated wildcard Dominika Cibulková (5) 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 7-6(6)
Semi finals
- Dayana Yastremska (6) v wildcard Aryna Sabalenka (2)
These two played each other once before this semi final, in St Petersburg 2017. It was an ITF event, and Yastremska won in three sets. The Ukrainian was then ranked 208 in the world, and Sabalenka 117. Now those rankings are 42 and 11 respectively.
Sabalenka served first, and began with an ace. She had 30-0, but a double fault precipitated a run of four straight points for Yastremska, including two forehand winners, and a backhand winner to seal the service break.
Sabalenka responded in style, breaking back for the loss of just one point.
Both players held their next serves for 2-2.
In game five, Yastremska contributed two stunning backhand down the line winners, and a Sabalenka double fault left the second seed down three break points. Two were saved, but a third backhand winner confirmed a second break for Yastremska and she led 3-2.
In game eight, the sixth seed saved a pair of break points, one with a backhand put away at the net, and the second via a Sabalenka backhand return error. 5-3. Sabalenka then held her serve, forcing Yastremska to the line serving for the set.
Two set points came and went before Yastremska converted a third when Sabalenka returned a forehand long. 6-4.
In set two, break points arose in the third game. Sabalenka had 30-30 on serve, despite two winners from Yastremska. Then a double fault and the first break point. Saved by a forehand winner. Another double fault was delivered on a second break point and Yastremska led 2-1.
Serve was held by both for the next five games without a break point faced, and Sabalenka trailed 3-5.
Serving to stay in the tournament, Sabalenka found herself down 15-40 and facing two match points - a double fault, a wide backhand, and a sizzling Yastremska backhand return winner the reason. An ace saved one, and a Yastremska error the other. A third match point was created through the umpteenth backhand return winner off the racquet of Yastremska. It disappeared with a magnificent second serve ace. Courage personified. A Sabalenka forehand winner gave her game point, but it was wasted, you guessed it, with a double fault. A ripping forehand cross court winner produced a second game point, and a huge serve forced a Yastremska return error.
Sabalenka held serve under the most extreme pressure, a wonderful effort which meant that Yastremska would need to do likewise at 5-4 to win the match.
The sixth seed started with a forehand cross court winner, and a Sabalenka backhand sailing long made it 30-0.
A Ukrainian error, plus a double fault, were evidence of nerves, but a great serve down the T surprised Sabalenka and the return was nowhere near the court. Match point #4 was converted with a Yastremska ace, just her second for the contest.
Dayana Yastremska defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 6-4, complete with 36 winners, in a terrific display of tennis by both players.
- Caroline Garcia (4) defeated compatriot Chloe Paquet 6-3 6-4, and will play Dayana Yastremska in the final.
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