Katie Boulter battles hard to win first set 6-4 before cruising to 6-0 victory in the second; British No 1 takes on sixth seed Yue Yuan from 6am on Saturday, live on Sky Sports in semi-finals of Hong Kong Open; watch all the ATP and WTA action live on Sky Sports Tennis
Friday 1 November 2024 17:48, UK
Katie Boulter is through to the Hong Kong Open semi-finals after a 6-4 6-0 victory over Anastasia Zakharova.
Boulter edged a hard-fought opening set against an inspired Zakharova before running away with the second set.
The British No 1, who reached the semi-finals in Tokyo last week, raised her level when it mattered against an opponent ranked 113th, who matched the second seed for most of the opening set.
But Boulter held serve with an ace to lead 5-4 and then sealed the first break of the match to take it 6-4 after Zakharova hit a forehand into the net.
Zakharova put the world No 29 under pressure in the opening game of the second set, but Boulter held and then produced a fabulous volley on break point to move into a 2-0 lead.
A second break followed for the Briton, courtesy of a stunning cross-court forehand, as she cruised into a 4-0 lead and, after holding once more, she broke Zakharova for a third time to wrap up victory in an hour and 16 minutes.
The victory continues Boulter's sensational run of form and she will now face Yue Yuan from 6am on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, after the sixth seed defeated American Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-3 in the semi-finals.
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