WTA Lexington: Serena Williams to face Shelby Rogers. Catherine Bellis marches on

World no. 116 Shelby Rogers will play against Serena Williams in the quarter-final in Lexington. It is the best result for Rogers since Strasbourg 2017, earning it following a 6-2, 7-5 triumph over the young Canadian qualifier Leylah Fernandez in an hour and 39 minutes. Shelby served at only 40%, dominating with her first serve and fending off three out of five break chances. The youngster couldn't follow those numbers, losing half of the points behind the initial shot and giving serve away five times to propel Rogers through. Shelby broke in the first game of the match for a convincing start, serving well and increasing her advantage to 5-2 with another break. The American needed five set points on serve in the next game, converting the last to move closer to the finish line. Leylah was there to fight in set number two, stealing the rival's serve in games two and six to forge a 5-2 advantage.

With no room for errors, Shelby started to climb back, rattling 20 of the last 27 points to grab five straight games and move into the quarters without playing a decider. Jil Teichmann is through to the last eight for the first time since Palermo last July, ousting the 5th seed Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 28 minutes. Both players had their opportunities on the return and it was the Swiss who took advantage of those, stealing 60% of the points in Putintseva's games and securing six breaks. That was more than enough to keep her safe after erasing six out of eight opportunities that Yulia earned, controlling the pace and staying on the title course.

Shelby Rogers took down Leylah Fernandez to set Serena Williams clash.

They traded early breaks before Teichmann shifted into a higher gear, taking the last four games for a massive momentum ahead of set number two. There, we saw a similar outcome, with the Swiss securing five straight games from being 2-1 down, stealing Putintseva's serve at love in game eight to seal the deal in style. After reaching the third round at the Australian Open, Catherine Bellis is back on the winning way, ousting Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 25 minutes for the eighth WTA quarter-final. Plagued with injuries in recent years, CiCi is back at her best after the coronavirus break, dominating on the return to forge a commanding triumph. Bellis served at 44%, saving five out of seven chances offered to Pegula and delivering six breaks from 14 opportunities to always stay in front. CiCi won the opener after clinching the last four games from 2-3, repeating a similar performance in set number two with three consecutive breaks that carried her over the top.  

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2PNemEe