By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, October 26, 2019
Aryna Sabalenka saved a set point battling by Karolina Muchova 7-5, 7-6 (4) to power into the Zhuhai final against top-seeded Kiki Bertens.
Photo credit: WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai Facebook
Opponents call Aryna Sabalenka one of the most explosive players on the WTA Tour.
Today, Sabalenka showed plenty of staying power.
More: WTA Finals Draw Set
The 21-year-old Sabalenka saved a set point in the second set fighting off Karolina Muchova 7-5, 7-6 (4) to advance to the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai final for the first time and continue her streak of success in China.
The 14th-ranked Belarusian burst into her fourth final of the season, including her third final of the year in China.
Sabalenka, who won Wuhan last month, will face Kiki Bertens in the Zhuhai final.
The top-seeded Bertens battled past Chinese wild card Zheng Saisai 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in today's first semifinal.
Down a set and a break at 6-2, 2-1, Bertens found her range and rhythm reeling off nine of the next 11 games building a 4-1 third-set lead she never relinquished.
Bertens, who was beaten out for the final spot in the WTA Finals Shenzhen by Belinda Bencic, converted five of her seven-break point chances in a two hour, 30-minute comeback conquest.
In their first career meeting, Sabalenka and Muchova traded breaks to open. The Belarusian is the bigger hitter and was cracking her forehand with authority, but Muchova hung tough denying break points to level at 4-all.
Sabalenka stamped her third love hold of the set for 6-5 then laced a backhand return winner down the line for set point before breaking on a Muchova error to take the 51-minute opener.
The 11th-seeded Czech broke to start the second set and twice served for the set, but Sabalenka would not yield. Sabalenka saved a set point in the ninth game when Muchova missed a backhand.
Serving to force a final set at 5-4, Muchova could not close as Sabalenka stepped up the aggression. The Belarusian banged successive inside-out forehand winners breaking back at love to level after 10 games.
Scattering a double fault, Sabalenka faced break point in the 11th game and scraped a shot wide to surrender serve.
Serving for a third set again, Muchova did not meet the moment as Sabalenka broke to push it into a tie breaker.
Booming a backhand crosscourt and following with a stinging serve down the middle, Sabalenka earned match points. When Muchova netted a forehand, Sabalenka was into the final after a tough one hour, 52-minute victory.
Sabalenka beat both Bertens and world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty en route to the Wuhan title last month. Overall, Bertens has beaten Sabalenka in four of their five meetings.