In the WTA 250 Guangzhou Open on Friday, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, Ann Li from the United States, showcased her prowess by defeating Elisabetta Cocciaretto in a straightforward quarter-final match that lasted just over an hour. Li’s victory came with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4, marking her third semi-final appearance of the year.
Li’s win sets the stage for an exciting semi-final clash against the beloved local player, Zhang Shuai. Zhang, who has won this tournament twice in the past (2013 and 2017), displayed immense tenacity to overcome American qualifier Katie Volynets after a grueling contest that lasted nearly three hours. Zhang secured her spot in the Last 4 with a final score of 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-5, highlighting her resilience as she served for the match at 5-4 in the second set. This match was significant for Zhang as it marked her return to tour-level semi-finals for the first time since the Tokyo event in 2022.
In another quarter-final match, Claire Liu, currently ranked 305 and also a qualifier, fought back from an initial setback to defeat Ella Seidel from Germany. Liu’s determination shone through as she rallied to win 4-6, 6-0, 6-4, advancing to her fourth career tour-level semi-final, an achievement she last accomplished in Budapest back in July 2023.
Liu’s next opponent will be Lulu Sun from New Zealand, who has been demonstrating impressive form in this tournament. Sun, also coming from a set down, managed to triumph over America’s Caty McNally with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted just under two hours. This victory propels Sun to her second tour-level semi-final, the first being in Monterrey in 2024.
With the semi-finals lined up, fans can expect thrilling matches as these players vie for a place in the final of the Guangzhou Open.
