By Alberto Amalfi | Thursday, September 29, 2016
Svetlana Kuznetsova saved a match point squeezing out a 1-6, 7-6 (9), 6-4, Wuhan win over Agnieszka Radwanska to reach her first semifinal since April.
Photo credit: Wuhan Open
Svetlana Kuznetsova's skill changing direction helped her alter the course of the match.
Kuznetsova saved a match point in the second-set tie break squeezing out a 1-6, 7-6 (9), 6-4 comeback victory over Agnieszka Radwanska in the Wuhan quarterfinals.
Watch: Kvitova Conquers Cramps, Kerber
It was Kuznetsova's 12th win in 16 meetings with Radwanska.
"I was getting better as the match was going on. Aga played well in the first set, but I wasn't moving so well," Kuznetsova said. "In the second set I wasn't playing my best game. But I was trying to stay in there, trying to fight, trying to be smart and turn things around.
"Then I served good in the third set and took control of the game. I don't know how many match points I saved, I was just trying to play normal points as it was very even. I had some set points, so I was just trying to stay calm."
The Russian No. 1 hit 51 winners compared to 28 for Radwanska advancing to her first WTA semifinal since she reached the final four in Prague last April.
The third-seeded Radwanska won six of seven points played on Kuznetsova's serve and broke three times breezing through the first set.
Radwanska served for the match at 6-5, but could not close then held match point in the tie break but did not convert.
In the decisive set, Kuznetsova broke for a 4-3 lead.
The ninth-seeded Russian backed up the break at love smacking successive aces and firing a forehand winner down the line.
In the ninth game, Radwanska saved a match point with a forehand winner down the line.
Kuznetsova cracked a backhand winner down the line to conclude a two hour, 50-minute comeback victory.
It was Kuznetsova's fourth Top 10 victory of the season, including her second this week. She swept defending Wuhan champion Venus Williams in the third round on Wednesday.
The two-time Grand Slam champion will play either 10th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova or 21st-ranked Czech Barbora Strycova in the semifinals.
No. 4-seeded Simona Halep deconstructed Madison Keys, 6-4, 6-2, beating the powerful American for the fourth time in five meetings.
Halep broke serve five times in an impressive 69-minute victory.
The match was a rematch of the Montreal final, which Halep won 7-6 (2), 6-3.
It was a double triumph for Halep, who advanced to the semifinals and became the third woman to qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore. Halep joined world No. 1 Angelique Kerber and second-ranked Serena Williams in qualifying for the season-ending event.
The 25-year-old Romanian will play 2014 Wuhan champion Petra Kvitova for a spot in the final.
Kvitova, who toppled world No. 1 Angelique Kerber in an epic three hour, 20-minute win on Thursday, backed up that win cracking seven aces and denying all four break points she faced in a 6-3, 6-4 victory over 11th-seeded Johanna Konta.
"For sure I served better than yesterday," Kvitova said. "My serve helped me a lot today. It was difficult mentally from yesterday. I don't feel 100 percent, but it was good."
The fifth-ranked Halep has won all three meetings with Kvitova, including a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 decision in Fed Cup play earlier this season.
"She played great today," Kvitova said of Halep. "I mean new match, new day. I will do everything possible and try my best. I lost to her last time and I know how dangerous she is and how well she's playing. So I need to be ready."