By Chris Oddo | Thursday October 22, 2015
18-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina ended Carla Suarez Navarro's Singapore hopes with an impressive straight-sets thrashing in Moscow.
Photo Source: Kremlin Cup
Move over WTA Rising Stars, or at the very least, make room for another. Russia’s Daria Kasatkina has stormed into her first career semifinal with a 6-1, 6-2 blowout of Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
The victory means that Lucie Safarova qualifies ahead of Suarez Navarro for Singapore, rounding out the eight-player field:
The 18-year-old Kasatkina, who reached the third round at this year’s U.S. Open in her first appearance in the main draw of a major, has now won seven of her last nine Tour-level matches.
The 2014 French Open Girls’ singles champion was dominant throughout, and opened up a 5-0 lead on a dazed Suarez Navarro in set one before closing the set, 6-1. In the second set it was more of the same. Kasatkina built a 5-1 lead behind sharp shooting and easy power. She stretched out the court with acute angles, moved exceptionally and attacked the flailing Spaniard from both wings relentlessly.
Suarez Navarro has been dealing with injuries and fatigue and has never really found her game since an incredible start to the season that saw her reach the top ten and ascend to finals in Miami and Rome. She has only won five of her last sixteen matches but still got some good news on Thursday in Moscow. Because of the withdrawal of Casey Dellacqua (partnered by Yaroslava Shvedova) from the WTA Finals doubles competition, Suarez Navarro and Garbine Muguruza have qualified.
"I am extremely disappointed to have to withdraw from the WTA Finals in Singapore," Dellacqua said in a statement on WTATennis.com. "Unfortunately since my fall in Beijing, where I sustained concussion and whiplash injuries, I have not fully recovered. My health is always my priority. wish all the other doubles teams all the very best and hope the tournament is a great success for the organizers and especially the fans."