China Open: Samsonova brushes aside Ostapenko to reach the semi-finals

Russian Liudmila Samsonova defeated Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No 13 seed, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the last 4 of the China Open at National Tennis Center in Beijing.

Samsonova, ranked No 22, will play the winner of the match between Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, and Kazakh Elena Rybakina, the No 5 seed, next.

Earlier in the tournament, the Russian won against American Alycia Parks (6-4, 7-6 (4)), No 12 seed Petra Kvitova (6-4, 7-5) and Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk (6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-5).

Ostapenko, ranked No 17, beat German qualifier Eva Lys (2-6, 6-3, 6-2), Linda Noskova (W/O) and American Jessica Pegula, the No 4 seed (6-4, 6-2) in the previous rounds of the Beijing tournament.

Beijing WTA 1000, other last-eight results (National Tennis Center, hard, USD 8.127.389, most recent results first):

• Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina
• Coco Gauff (3) beat Maria Sakkari (6): 6-2, 6-4
• Iga Swiatek (2) beat Caroline Garcia (9): 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5), 6-1