Maria Sharapova has missed a possible dream finale in Shenzhen (China) against world number one Simona Halep. The Russian lost against last year’s winner Katerina Siniakova in three sets. Julia Görges has to wait for her next mission.
Sinaikova, who hadn’t played a set yet, took the day by surprise and won the game 6-2,3-6 and 6-3 after one hour and 57 minutes. The Czech defeated ten aces in total (Sharapova only scored an ace) and thus takes effect after her third tournament win in her career and the second consecutive title in Shenzhen.
In the final, she will face Romanian Halep, who dumped her countrywoman Irina-Camelia Begu 6:1 and 6:4.
At the tournament in Brisbane, Belarussian Aliaksandra Sasnovich continued her sensational run and beat Anastasija Sevastova from Latvia 7:6 (3) and 6:4. In the final, Sasnovich will face Elina Svitolina, who won an exciting match against defending champion Karolina Pliskova 7:5 and 7:5.
Julia Görges had her second day off on Friday. Due to heavy rain, all quarter-finals in Auckland (New Zealand) were cancelled and postponed to Saturday, as was already the case on Thursday.
Görges, who is seeded on number two, meets the Slovenian Polona Hercog. The semi-finals are also scheduled for Saturday, and in the event of a win, Görges would then meet Barbora Strycova’s winner against Hsieh Su-Wei.