By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday September 28, 2023

 

Diana Shnaider defeated Petra Kvitova in three sets to reach her second career semifinal at Ningbo.

Photo Source: TTV

Diana Shnaider of Russia notched her second career Top-20 win, defeating two-time Grand Slam champion Petra Kvitova 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 on Thursday at the Ningbo Open in China.

For the 19-year-old southpaw, the moment was special, as Kvitova has long been one of her idols.



“It makes it special when you play one of the greatest players in the world, and she’s a left-hander so it’s twice as special for me,” Shnaider said after setting a semifinal with fellow teen Linda Fruhvirtova. “When I was young I was watching a lot of Petra, because there are not a lot of lefties on the tour and she was one of the most amazing – of course it’s so special for me to beat her and of course I will not forget this.”

Shnaider improves to 12-8 on the season and reaches her second career semifinal. She is currently ranked 83 in the world.

The Russian took charge in the final set, saving a break point to level at 3-all, then breaking at love to lead 4-3. She won 14 of the final 15 points of the match.

“I was just trying to stay focused during the match,” she said. “I knew that it was going to be tough. She’s tough mentally, physically and she has a lot more experience than me. I was just trying to do my best on the return, just to put it in the court and if I have a chance to be aggressive, and if not, I would just try to put every ball deep in the court.”

Linda Fruhvirtova demolished Lucia Bronzetti, 6-0, 6-3 in 74 minutes to reach her second career semifinal as well. The World No.117 saved seven of eight break points and won 12 of 13 second-serve return points across the match.

Top-seeded Jabeur Edges Zvonareva

Ons Jabeur picked up some critical points in the Race to Cancun standings by defeating veteran Vera Zvonareva 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 in 2:36, setting a semifinal with Nadia Podoroska, who walloped Katerina Siniakova, 6-1, 6-1.

Jabeur improves to 31-14 on the season with her win over the 39-year-old veteran.