By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, September 28, 2017
"I just beat number one and it's amazing,” said Jelena Ostapenko.
Photo credit: KEB Bank Korea Open
The ball blurred off Jelena Ostapenko’s strings like a streak of paint.
The final stroke splashed the sideline completing a vibrant comeback.
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Ostapenko surged through six straight games closing out her first career win over a world No. 1 in style.
The 20-year-old Latvian’s a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, conquest of Garbiñe Muguruza sent Ostapenko into her sixth semifinal of the season in Wuhan.
“I just beat number one and it's amazing,” Ostapenko said in her on-court interview. “She played really well first set. The second set (had) some exciting games. I was still playing aggressive trying to play my game. Yeah, it turned my way third set I played really well.”
It was the eighth seed’s eighth consecutive victory following her run to her first career hard-court championship in Seoul on Sunday. Growing stronger as the match progressed, Ostapenko raised her three-set record to 19-7, beating Muguruza for the first time.
"In the first set I think I really wasn't going for my shots," Ostapenko said. "Then in the second and third set I started to go for my shots, change the directions more. I think it helped me pretty well."
In a clash of Grand Slam champions, Ostapenko overcame a slow start with some lethal strikes down the stretch.
The reigning Roland Garros champion pounded 29 winners, more than doubling the Wimbledon champion’s total of 11.
The lone seed still standing will face red-hot Australian Ashleigh Barty for a spot in the final.
Barty roared back from a set down surprising third-seeded Karolina Pliskova, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2), for her first career win over a Top 5-ranked player.
"I’ve played Karolina a couple of times now, and it’s been very close every time," Barty said. "I'm happy to come through with the win today, I feel like we both played pretty good.”
Barty, who began the year ranked outside of the world’s Top 200 will continue her rocket-ride up the rankings making her Top 30 debut when the new rankings are released on Monday.
A then 50th-ranked Ostapenko outdueled an 84th-ranked Barty, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, in the Rome qualifying in May.
Pliskova double faulted on match point bringing an anti-climactic end to an exciting two hour, 31-minute win.
"I think she was playing just little bit better today," Pliskova said. "Even though was, like, really close, one or two points, but I think she was just more aggressive. In the end of the sets, she was just going for her shots, which I was not able to make because in tiebreaks I didn't hit any first serves."
The Muguruza-Ostapenko clash morphed from a lopsided start to a one-sided finish.
Scattering successive double faults beyond the service box, the Latvian donated the second break and a 4-1 lead.
Festering frustration erupted as Ostapenko hurled her Wilson Blade to the court as Muguruza backed up the break at 15.
The Wimbledon champion commanded the center of the court muscling capitulation from Ostapenko, whose bail-out drop shot sat up inside the service line.
Cruising forward, Muguruza swatted a forehand down the line closing a dominant opening set in 34 minutes. Ostapenko's 15 unforced errors tripled her top-seeded opponent's error count in the set.
Erasing the shoddy start, Ostapenko came out firing in the second set blasting through the first of three straight breaks. A curling forehand crosscourt sealed her second-straight break before Ostapenko rolled through a love hold extending her lead to 3-1.
Muguruza broke back to level after six games. When Muguruza sailed a shot, Ostapenko had her third break of the set and a 4-3 advantage.
Emboldened by a coaching visit, Ostapenko changed direction down the line with bold declarity powering through three consecutive games to take the 43-minute second set.
Following a three-minute medical timeout for treatment of her leg, Mugurza immediatedly wrenched control of the decider breaking to open and building a 2-0 lead.
Finding her groove and stepping into the court, Ostapenko roared in a three-game run prompting the two-time Grand Slam champion to call for her coach.
Sam Sumyk urged his charge not to get knocked back on her back foot and to try to mix the pace and height of her shots.
"How I feel, I cannot play fast balls today," Muguruza answered evenly.
Ostapenko banged out her second straight break and a 4-2 lead. Shoveling a running forehand pass down the line, Ostapenko reeled off her fifth straight game.
Caroline Garcia celebrated her father, Louis Paul's birthday, fighting off Ekaterina Makarova, 7-6 (3), 6-4. to reach her fifth semifinal of the season.
"Great match, great fight beginning to end," Garcia said. "I'm very happy. I thought I did really well in tough moments.
"I just have to keep going. I'm just glad to be in the semifinals and today's my dad's birthday, so even better."
The 20th-ranked Frenchwoman will play Maria Sakkari for a place in the final.
The 80th-ranked Greek qualifier scored her third straight-sets win in a row dispatching France's Alize Cornet, 7-6 (2), 7-5.
"It feels great being here," Sakkari said. "I still cannot believe it that I’ve come through to the semis, it feels great actually."
It will be the first pro meeting between Garcia and Sakkari.
"I mean she’s a great player and it’s gonna be a very, very tough match," Sakkari said. "The (fans) were great support, great atmosphere and I'm really looking forward to coming back tomorrow."