WTA Brisbane: Kalinina ends Birrell’s run to reach semi-finals

Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina reached the semi-finals of the Brisbane International by edging out Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 at the Queensland Tennis Centre on Friday.

Kalinina, ranked No 55, saved a matchpoint e route to the win and will face the winner of the match between American Ashlyn Krueger and Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova for a place in the final.

Earlier in the week, the Ukrainian benefited from the retirement of Chinese Yafan Wang (6-4, 2-0), defeated Russian Diana Shnaider, the No 5 seed (6-3, 4-6, 6-1) and Chinese Yue Yuan (6-1, 6-4).

In the previous round of the tournament, Birrell, ranked No 113, won against qualifier Priscilla Hon (3-6, 7-5, 6-2), American Emma Navarro, the second seed (7-5, 7-5) and Russian Anastasia Potapova (7-6 (2), 6-2). With her run to the last eight here, the Aussie will break into the top 100 of the world rankings for the first time in her career.

Brisbane WTA 500, other quarter-final matches (Queensland Tennis Centre, hard, USD 1,520,600):

• Aryna Sabalenka vs. Marie Bouzkova
• Ashlyn Krueger vs. Polina Kudermetova
• Ons Jabeur vs. Mirra Andreeva

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