Adelaide International: Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff reach semi-finals

The semi-finalists at Adelaide International have been set. In the top half, Iga Swiatek will face Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann for a place in the final while in the bottom half, Coco Gauff will play Teichmann’s compatriot, second seed Belinda Bencic for a final spot.

In the day session, Teichmann overcame Anastasija Sevastova in a wild match 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-5 in three minutes short of the three-hour mark. The Swiss came quite close to finishing the match in the second set itself but the Latvian’s doggedness saw her save five match points in the second set before winning it in the tie-break and pushing the match to the decider. In the final set, while serving at 4-5, it was Teichmann’s turn to face a couple of match points of her own and save them to prolong the match – and her stay in the tournament. Victory finally came for Teichmann on her seventh match point.

Adelaide International: Swiss players double the ante

The world no. 61’s semi-final opponent, Swiatek, had an easier time on court against Danielle Collins. The defending French Open champion won the opening set comfortably 6-2 and led 3-0 in the second set before Collins decided to call time on the match with an injury to her lower back.

Meanwhile, in her quarter-final against fellow countrywoman Shelby Rogers, Coco Gauff pulled off another comeback to claim a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory. This is Gauff’s first semi-final in a WTA 500 tournament.

After the match, Gauff spoke about the importance of the experience of playing a greater number of matches. She said, “At the end of the day I need more matches under my belt. I'm still new and need a lot more experience and it definitely plays a role. I didn't realize how much a role experience plays until I started playing some players who are a lot older than me and they know what to do. Even when it comes to the little mind games and all that, they know what to do in those moments. So, I'm just learning and picking up a few tricks and as I go.”

Gauff will keen to pick some more tricks against Bencic on Friday. Bencic reached her first semi-final in almost two years at the Adelaide International after scoring a 6-2, 6-4 win over Storm Sanders.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3dJVHpY