Sevastova stuns Osaka in Beijing semi

Anastasija Sevastova is now the Latvian number one female tennis player, overtaking Jelena Ostapenko.  This has happened because of her outstanding performance in the Premier Mandatory category China Open in Beijing.

Anastasija played Naomi Osaka (8) in one of the Beijing semi finals, and despite Naomi being in hot form - bidding to become the first woman in 2018 to reach three consecutive finals - she had lost to Anastasija in the only meeting between the pair this year (Doha, February)

Osaka has developed her power game to such an extent, that most opponents cannot find sufficient antidotes to its venom.

Sevastova, however, employed a variety of slice, spin and depth to create a serious contest in the opening set of the semi final.

Osaka knew early that she was in for a test, as she had to save three break points in game three, her strong serve coming to the rescue.  Game six saw deuce visited six times, and it was Sevastova who needed to save break points - two of them.  Three of her six aces in set one were delivered in this game.

The next game offered the first and only service break for the set, as Osaka errors were constantly contributed off both wings.

Sevastova progressed to 6-4, an ace sealing the deal.

A frustrated Osaka was broken in the fifth game of set two, errors once more flowing from her misbehaving racquet.  Sevastova let two chances to grab a double break, and lead 5-2, slip away.  Osaka built on this escape by actually hitting some big shots into the court, the backhand back in vogue.

Sevastova double faulted on game point and 4-3, and subsequently dropped serve.  4-4.

The Japanese backhand decided to backfire again, and the beneficiary was Latvian.  Anastasija led 5-4, and served for the match.

No more twists in the match, as a winning down the line backhand highlighted the last game, Anastasija Sevastova defeating Naomi Osaka 6-4 6-4.

The first final at this elite level for Sevastova.

• Caroline Wozniacki (2) defeated wildcard Qiang Wang 6-1 6-3, and will play Anastasija Sevastova in the final

ATP Beijing semis 

• Juan Martin del Potro (1) received a walkover from Fabio Fognini (4)
• Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Kyle Edmund (5) 7-6(6) 6-4, and will play Juan Martin del Potro in the final

ATP Tokyo semis

• Qualifier Daniil Medvedev defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-3 6-3
• Kei Nishikori (3) defeated Richard Gasquet (8) 7-6(2) 6-1, and will play Daniil Medvedev in the final

Quarter finals in Beijing and Tokyo

Quarter final day in Beijing and Tokyo.and the results were as follows

ATP Beijing 

• Juan Martin del Potro (1) defeated Filip Krajinovic 6-3 6-0
• Fabio Fognini (4) defeated Marton Fucsovics 6-4 6-4, and will play Juan Martin del Potro in the semis
• Kyle Edmund (5) defeated qualifier Dusan Lajovic 6-3 7-6(4)
• Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Malek Jaziri 6-2 6-2, and will play Kyle Edmund in the semis 

WTA Beijing 

• Anastasija Sevastova defeated Dominika Cibulková 6-3 7-6(5)
• Naomi Osaka (8) defeated Shuai Zhang 3-6 6-4 7-5, and will play Anastasija Sevastova in the semis
• Wildcard Qiang Wang defeated Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 7-5
• Caroline Wozniacki (2) defeated qualifier Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-2, and will play Qiang Wang in the semis 

ATP Tokyo 

• Denis Shapovalov defeated Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6 7-6(7) 6-4
• Qualifier Daniil Medvedev defeated Milos Raonic (6) 7-6(4) 6-3, and will play Denis Shapovalov in the semis
• Kei Nishikori (3) defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) 6-3 6-3
• Richard Gasquet (8) defeated Kevin Anderson (2) 7-6(6) 7-6(4), and will play Kei Nishikori in the semis

Zverev downed by Jaziri in Beijing

The remaining quarter final spots have been taken up in the China Open in Beijing, both men’s and women’s singles.

Likewise, the ATP Japan Open in Tokyo is down to the final eight.

Tunisia’s 34 year old veteran Malek Jaziri caused the upset of the day, dumping second seed Sascha Zverev from Beijing in three sets, after two and a half hours.

Set one was a tie break after each player achieved a single break of serve.

Zverev would have been kicking himself, only converting one of eight chances. Jaziri used his only opportunity to the maximum, and then wrapped up the set, 7 points to 4 in the breaker.

An unhappy German smashed Jaziri in set two, winning 80% of points on his serve.  Jaziri could only land 29% of his first serves accurately, and was broken twice en route to a 2-6 set loss.

However, the momentum switched again in the decider, Jaziri much tidier from the line, and able to penetrate the Zverev serve sufficiently to create two break points. He converted both, and won the set and match 7-6(4) 2-6 6-4.

Zverev converted only four of seventeen break points for the match, Jaziri three from three.

Other ATP Beijing results 

• Fabio Fognini (4) defeated Andrey Rublev 6-4 6-3
• Marton Fucsovics defeated Marco Cecchinato (8) 6-4 6-2, and will play Fabio Fognini in the quarter finals 
• Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Fernando Verdasco 7-6(3) 6-4, and will play Malek Jaziri in the quarter finals

WTA Beijing results 

• Shuai Zhang defeated Angie Kerber (3) 6-1 2-6 6-0
• Naomi Osaka (8) defeated Julia Goerges (10) 6-1 6-2, and will play Shuai Zhang in the quarter finals 
• Wildcard Qiang Wang defeated Karolina Pliskova (7) 6-4 6-4, to give the home nation two representatives in the last eight.
• Aryna Sabalenka defeated defending champion Caroline Garcia (4) 5-7 7-6(3) 6-0, and will play Qiang Wang in the quarter finals 
• Qualifier Katerina Siniakova defeated Kiki Bertens (11) 6-4 6-3
• Caroline Wozniacki (2) defeated Anett Kontaveit 7-5 6-4, and will play Katerina Siniakova in the quarter finals

ATP Tokyo results 

• Jan-Lennard Struff defeated Jérémy Chardy 7-6(3) 6-7(2) 6-4, and will play Denis Shapovalov in the quarter finals 
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) defeated Alex de Minaur 6-3 5-7 6-1, and will play Kei Nishikori in the quarter finals 
• Richard Gasquet (8) defeated Nick Kyrgios 7-6(4) 7-6(1)
• Kevin Anderson (2) defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3 3-6 6-2, and will play Richard Gasquet in the quarter finals 

Cibulková d Stephens - now in Beijing 1\4s

As the final round two WTA matches in Beijing were being completed, the first round of sixteen battles took place.

One was a beauty.  

Sloane Stephens (9) began to a Slovak barrage, Dominika Cibulková winning the opening three games of the contest.  However, the 2017 US Open champion soon settled, and took full toll of Cibulková’s growing unforced error count.

Cibulková could only win 55% of points on her first serve, allowing Stephens to break twice and claim the first set 6-4.

Still struggling to win an acceptable amount of points on her first serve in set two, Dominika was able to break the American serve early anyway.

Stephens replied in kind two games later, but the determined Slovakian wanted a third set, and broke twice more, blocking three chances presented to Stephens on the way.  The match was level 4-6 6-2

In the decider, Stephens has a first serve percentage of 84, but it mattered little as Cibulková returned both first and second deliveries well enough to set up a 4-0 lead.

Sloane stopped the run of seven straight games by recovering one of the service breaks, and at 2-4 she still harboured hopes of victory 

Cibulková held strong, though, and the remaining games went to serve, the final one clinched by Dominika, who booked a quarter final spot 4-6 6-2 6-3.

This is the second quarter final in successive weeks for Cibulková, and fifth for the year. (one being Wimbledon) Two of those eventually resulted in a final appearance - Budapest and Strasbourg 

• Anastasija Sevastova defeated Donna Vekic 6-3 6-2, and she will play Dominika Cibulková in the quarter finals 

ATP Beijing second round matches 

• Juan Martin del Potro (1) defeated Karen Khachanov 6-4 7-6(4)
• Filip Krajinovic defeated wildcard Feliciano López 7-6(5) 6-3, and he will play Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter finals 
• Kyle Edmund (5) defeated qualifier Matteo Berrettini 7-5 6-7(2) 7-5
• Qualifier Dusan Lajovic defeated Grigor Dimitrov (3) 6-4 2-6 6-4, and will play Kyle Edmund in the quarter finals 

ATP Tokyo

 First round matches

• Alex de Minaur defeated Gilles Simon 6-7(1) 7-6(5) 6-2 
• Nick Kyrgios defeated wildcard Yoshihito Nishioka 7-5 7-6(3)
• Kevin Anderson (2) defeated Matthew Ebden 4-6 7-6(1) 6-2

Second round matches 

• Denis Shapovalov defeated Stan Wawrinka 4-6 6-1 6-4
• Qualifier Daniil Medvedev defeated qualifier Martin Klizan 6-4 6-3
• Milos Raonic (6) defeated qualifier Yosuke Watanuki 6-3 7-6(2), and will play Daniil Medvedev in the quarter finals 
• Kei Nishikori (3) defeated Benoit Paire 6-3 7-5

Struff upsets Cilic in Tokyo

It took over two hours, but German player Jan-Lennard Struff caused a major upset in the Japan Open by dumping the top seed, Marin Cilic, in the opening round.  It was only the second time that Struff had beaten an opponent ranked in the top ten.

Cilic started well enough, winning about three quarters of points on both his first and second serves in set one. He saved all three break points faced, and returned the Struff serve with great effect.

A single break of serve and Cilic led 6-3.

Struff turned it around in set two, handling the Croatian second serve better, and converting the only break point opportunity presented him.  Cilic couldn’t use the two chances handed his way, and thus lost the set.

The decider saw Cilic ahead by a break, and he served twice for the match.  However, he failed on both occasions.  Struff savaged the Cilic second serve, winning 16 of the 19 points played when the first delivery missed.

A tie break was forced, and Struff breezed through, losing just one point, taking the match 3-6 6-4 7-6(1)

Other ATP Tokyo first round results 

• Jérémy Chardy defeated Damir Dzumhur 4-6 6-3 6-3
• Stan Wawrinka defeated Taylor Fritz 6-3 6-4
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) defeated wildcard Taro Daniel 6-1 6-3
• Richard Gasquet (8) defeated qualifier Denis Kudla 7-6(8) 6-3
• Frances Tiafoe defeated Maximilian Marterer 7-5 6-4

WTA Beijing second round results 

• Sloane Stephens (9) defeated wildcard Saisai Zheng 6-1 6-3
• Dominika Cibulková defeated Dasha Gavrilova 6-3 6-3
• Angie Kerber (3) defeated Carla Suárez Navarro 7-6(4) 6-1
• Naomi Osaka (8) defeated Danielle Collins 6-1 6-0
• Wildcard Qiang Wang defeated Jelena Ostapenko (12) 6-0 6-0
• Aryna Sabalenka defeated Garbiñe Muguruza (14) 7-5 6-4
• Caroline Garcia (4) defeated qualifier Polona Hercog 7-6(2) 6-3
• Qualifier Katerina Siniakova defeated Aleksandra Krunic 7-6(2) 6-2
• Kiki Bertens (11) defeated Kirsten Flipkens 6-1 6-1
• Anett Kontaveit defeated Laura Siegemund 2-6 6-3 6-2

ATP Beijing first round results 

• Juan Martin del Potro (1) defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-5 6-2
• Filip Krajinovic defeated Mischa Zverev 6-1 6-4
• Fabio Fognini (4) defeated qualifier Radu Albot 1-6 6-3 6-3
• Andrey Rublev defeated João Sousa 6-0 6-4
• Marco Cecchinato (8) defeated wildcard Marcos Baghdatis 1-6 6-4 7-5
• Qualifier Matteo Berrettini defeated Leonardo Mayer 6-3 6-2
• Grigor Dimitrov (3) defeated lucky loser Tennys Sandgren 7-5 6-3
• Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Jack Sock (6) 6-7(6) 7-5 6-2
• Fernando Verdasco defeated Gaël Monfils 2-6 7-6(3) 7-6(5)
• Sascha Zverev (2) defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 6-4

López winds back the clock in Beijing

Veteran 37 year old Spaniard Feliciano López was granted a wildcard into the China Open in Beijing.

His opening match was a tough assignment against seventh seed Borna Coric.

López was a semi finalist here in 2012, but didn’t look likely to repeat that performance as he slipped to a 2-5 deficit in the opening set.

The former world number 12 then clicked into gear, winning five straight games, on the back of a first serve which garnered 16 points from a possible 18.  López also pressured the Croatian serve, creating seven break opportunities, and converting three.

The lead was 7-5

Set two was all about the serve.  Although the first serve percentage was low, Coric won 89% of points when his initial delivery landed, and López won 100% when his did.

One break point arrived and was converted - Coric the beneficiary - and sets were tied 5-7 7-5.

The decider went with serve and no stress for Feliciano until he faced the Coric serve in the tenth game at 4-5.  Borna saw three match points evaporate, and he failed to win that game and any more.

Feliciano López won an entertaining match lasting two and three quarter hours, 7-5 5-7 7-5

Other ATP Beijing first round results 

• Karen Khachanov defeated Sam Querrey 6-4 6-4
• Marton Fucsovics defeated Andreas Seppi 6-3 6-4
• Kyle Edmund (5) defeated Peter Gojowczyk 3-6 6-1 6-2
• Qualifier Dusan Lajovic defeated qualifier Vasek Pospisil 2-6 6-4 6-4
• Malek Jaziri defeated wildcard Yibing Wu 6-4 6-3

WTA Beijing 

Remaining first round results 

• Carla Suárez Navarro defeated qualifier Yulia Putintseva 6-1 6-0
• Shuai Zhang defeated Elise Mertens (15) 6-1 3-6 6-3
• Naomi Osaka (8) defeated qualifier Zarina Diyas 6-4 6-3
• Karolina Pliskova (7) defeated wildcard Samantha Stosur 6-4 6-4
• Aliaksandra Sasnovich defeated Mihaela Buzărnescu 6-3 6-1
• Garbiñe Muguruza defeated Ekaterina Makarova 6-0 6-4
• Qualifier Katerina Siniakova defeated Alison Van Uytvanck 7-5 6-4
• Petra Martic defeated Barbora Strycova 6-2 6-3
• Caroline Wozniacki (2) defeated Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-3

Second round results 

• Donna Vekic defeated qualifier Ons Jabeur 7-6(5) 6-4
• Anastasija Sevastova received a walkover from Madison Keys (17) 
• Julia Goerges (10) defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-4 4-6 2-2 (retired)

ATP Tokyo first round results 

• Denis Shapovalov defeated Hyeon Chung (7) 6-3 3-6 6-2
• Qualifier Daniil Medvedev defeated Diego Schwartzman (4) 6-4 6-4
• Qualifier Martin Klizan defeated Steve Johnson 6-4 7-6(4)
• 20 year old Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki, ranked 273, defeated Robin Haase 6-7(7) 6-4 6-1
• Milos Raonic (6) defeated Adrian Mannarino 6-3 6-4
• Benoit Paire defeated Nicolas Jarry 6-4 7-6(1)
• Kei Nishikori (3) defeated wildcard Yūichi Sugita 6-4 6-1

Qualifiers Tomic, Nishioka win titles

Two qualifiers won tournaments in China over the weekend, the fifth and sixth to do so in 2018 on the ATP Tour.

• Yoshihito Nishioka defeated Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-5 2-6 6-4 to lift the Shenzhen Open trophy, his first ATP tournament win.  He moves up 76 places back into the top 100

• Bernard Tomic, in the Chengdu Open, was contesting his first ATP final since Acapulco in February 2016.  The former top twenty player faced four match points against top seed Fabio Fognini

Fognini was chasing his fourth title for the year, which would have been a record for Italy.  Tomic saved all match points and proceeded to win his fourth ATP trophy, the first since Bogotá in July 2015, 6-1 3-6 7-6(7)

The win enabled a rise in the rankings of 47 spots to 76, and back to automatic entry to the majors.

WTA Beijing 

More first round results 

• Qualifier Ons Jabeur defeated Simona Halep (1) 6-1 (retired).  The back injury which forced Halep out of this match began to affect her in the first up loss to Cibulková last week In Wuhan, so China has been a sad journey for the world number one in 2018.  It must be troubling as Halep looks toward the remaining tournaments and the season ending WTA Finals.
• Anastasija Sevastova defeated Alizé Cornet 6-4 6-2
• Madison Keys (17) defeated lucky loser Bernarda Pera 6-3 6-4
• Sloane Stephens (9) battled for almost three hours to defeat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-7(8) 6-4 6-4
• Wildcard Saisai Zheng defeated qualifier Dayana Yastremska 6-4 6-3
• Dominika Cibulková defeated wildcard Yingying Duan 6-3 6-2
• Angie Kerber (3) defeated Kiki Mladenovic 6-2 6-2
• Tímea Babos defeated Su-Wei Hsieh 6-2 6-2
• Lesia Tsurenko defeated qualifier Andrea Petkovic 6-2 7-6(2)
• Qualifier Polona Hercog defeated CoCo Vandeweghe 6-2 6-1
• Defending champion Caroline Garcia (4) defeated wildcard Yafan Wang 7-6(10) 6-7(4) 6-3
• Kirsten Flipkens defeated qualifier Katie Boulter 4-6 6-2 7-5
• Kiki Bertens (11) defeated lucky loser Sorana Cirstea 6-2 6-0
• Laura Siegemund defeated Daria Kasatkina (13) 6-3 4-2 (retired).  It was a bout of gastro that befell the Russian.