China’s sixth-seeded Yuan Yue secured her place in the semifinals of the Hong Kong Open with a commanding victory over former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin of the USA, winning 6-3, 6-3 on Friday in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Ranked 45th in the world, Yuan showcased exceptional skill and determination, dispatching Kenin in just one hour and 20 minutes. The Chinese star will next face second-seeded Katie Boulter of Great Britain, with a coveted spot in the tournament’s final on the line.
Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open winner, has seen her ranking fall to 88th but entered the match after a strong performance at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she reached the final against Yuan’s compatriot Zheng Qinwen. However, in Hong Kong, Kenin appeared to struggle with a thigh injury, playing with a protective bandage that seemed to hamper her movement.
“I knew my opponent played very well last week, but she wasn’t at her best today due to injury,” Yuan reflected after the match. “I felt I could perform well, and although there were some ups and downs during the match, I played better than in my previous match. I hope to continue this form into the next round.”
Yuan’s journey to the semifinals has been impressive. She defeated two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep of Romania in the first round and overcame a one-set deficit to prevail against Japan’s Nao Hibino in the round of 16. Her performance highlights the rising talent emerging from the Chinese mainland in women’s tennis.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
