China Open: Muchova moves into final

Karolina Muchova won against Chinese Zheng Qinwen, the No 5 seed, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the final of the China Open at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on Saturday.

Zheng took a lengthy time-out in the first set after a fall at break point down, with the score already at 3-2 to Muchova. The fifth seed had evidently scraped her fingers on the surface, and seemed to also be suffering from wrist pain.

The first set ran away from her, but she battled hard to stay in contention in the second.

Under par, though, despite saving two match points on her serve, she could not quite keep in touch with the tricks of Muchova.

The Czech – the current world No 49 – will be the lowest-ranked player to reach the China Open final, where she will face Coco Gauff, the No 4 seed.

Karolina Muchova beat Russian Anna Blinkova (6-1, 6-1), Chinese Yue Yuan, the No 30 seed (6-3, 6-1), Romanian Jaqueline Cristian (6-1, 6-3), Spaniard Cristina Bucsa (6-2, 6-0) and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed (7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4) in the previous rounds of the Beijing tournament.

Earlier in the tournament, Zheng, ranked No 7, won against Russian lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova (6-1, 6-1), Argentinian Nadia Podoroska (6-3, 6-2), American Amanda Anisimova, the No 34 seed (3-6, 6-1, 6-2) and Russian Mirra Andreeva, the No 17 seed (5-7, 6-0, 6-4).

Beijing WTA 1000, other semi-final result (National Tennis Center, hard, USD 8.955.610):

• Coco Gauff beat Paula Badosa (15): 4-6, 6-4, 6-2