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By Chris Oddo | October 18, 2018

 
Dayana Yastremska

18-year-old Dayana Yastremska increased her winning streak to eight with a decisive victory over Margarita Gasparyan in Luxembourg.

Photo Source: Luxembourg Open

Dayana Yastremska just keeps winning—and winning.

Fresh off her first career title at Hong Kong last week the 18-year-old Ukrainian notched her eighth consecutive win on Thursday at Luxembourg, sealing a 6-1, 6-4 win over Margarita Gasparyan to book a semifinal with Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.

Bencic eased past Vera Lapko of Belarus, 6-4, 6-1, to reach her first semifinal of 2018. The former World No.7 earned a total of 14 break points and converted 10 to defeat Lapko in 79 minutes. Bencic saved both break points she faced.

Yastremska won all nine second-serve return points in the opening set and reeled off the final four games after dropping serve in the third game.

The second set was a much more competitive affair as Gasparyan rallied from 2-4 down to level but could not stop Yastremska from winning the final two games to close affairs in 61 minutes.

Tennis Express


Yastremska is showing some signs of fatigue after playing eight matches in less than two weeks, as has been evidenced by the strapping on her right thigh, but she was able to dial in her focus to close out another impressive victory.

She broke for 5-4 with a giant crosscourt return on break point that Gasparayan could not handle, then converted her second match point moments later when she pushed Gasparyan out wide on the forehand side and no reply was forthcoming.




Yastremska made 70 percent of first serves in the second set including five of six in the final game when she needed them most.

Yastremska finished with 17 winners against 13 unforced errors on the evening, while Gasparyan managed just five winners and committed 13 unforced.

Top-Seeded Goerges Advances

Julia Goerges improved to 3-0 lifetime against Donna Vekic with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory in one hour and 54 minutes. The German cracked seven aces and won 42 of 51 first-serve points, finally taking control of the tight match in the decider by breaking in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead. She held to love to book a semifinal with Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard.

Bouchard advanced when Andrea Petkovic was forced to retire leading by a set but trailing 4-0 in the second set.

 

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