Aryna Sabalenka booked her place in the Madrid Open semi-final, digging in to edge past Marta Kostyuk on Wednesday. (More Tennis News)
Sabalenka stopped play due to the weather after missing her first serve at 5-4, resuming from first serve after the roof was closed, much to Kostyuk's frustration
Aryna Sabalenka booked her place in the Madrid Open semi-final, digging in to edge past Marta Kostyuk on Wednesday. (More Tennis News)
Sabalenka missed her first chance to convert match point but eventually got over the line in a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7) victory in just over two and a half hours.
There was little to split the pair in the first set, though Kostyuk drew first blood to take a 5-4 lead.
However, she failed to convert a set point in the next game before conceding her serve as Sabalenka drew level. Kostyuk바카라 웹사이트did force the tie-break, though the world number one just edged it to end the 85-minute opener.
Kostyuk started the second set brightly, racing into a 2-0 lead, yet Sabalenka once again clawed level.
The Belarusian then바카라 웹사이트had the chance to serve out the match at 6-5, but Kostyuk earned a break to take it to another tie-break, which was interrupted by rain.
Sabalenka stopped play due to the weather after missing her first serve at 5-4, resuming from first serve after the roof was closed, much to Kostyuk's frustration.
Though the Ukrainian won that point, she then failed to convert three set points, with Sabalenka making her pay.
The top seed will face Elina Svitolina in the last four after she recorded a resounding 6-2 6-1 victory over Moyuka Uchijima.
Svitolina has now won the joint-most consecutive completed matches on clay court in straight sets in the 2000s (11), equalling Serena Williams (Madrid to Roland-Garros in 2013) and Flavia Pennetta (Palermo 2009-Marbella 2010).
Data Debrief: Sabalenka keeps swinging
Sabalenka has equalled Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep for the most semi-finals reached in the women's singles at the Madrid Open (four).
It was not easy going for her, though, with Kostyuk fighting her all the way. Sabalenka faced 16 break points, managing to save 13 of them overall (81%).
Kostyuk faced nine, defending six (67%) as well as holding off a match point late on.
With Iga Swiatek also into the final four, there is a chance that Sabalenka could face off against the Pole in the showpiece for the third consecutive year, but they both have one more step to overcome to make that happen.