No seeds remain in the draw of the Hobart International after the quarter-final matches were played. The highest seed remaining in the women’s singles draw, Anhelina Kalinina lost to Sofia Kenin.
The American, who won the title here in 2019, came from down a set to beat the Ukrainian 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in an hour and 58 minutes. Kalinina was let down by nine double faults while Kenin had just one double fault. Kenin dropped her serve thrice in the match while converting six of the 19 break points she had on her opponent’s serve.
This is the first time since the 2020 Lyon Open that the 143rd-ranked American’s reached the semi-finals of a WTA 250 event. In fact, this is the first time in almost two years – since the 2021 French Open – Kenin’s stitched three consecutive match wins at an event.
Hobart International: American seize the day Down Under
Looking to make her first final since Paris that year, Kenin will now play Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
The Italian, like Kenin, also came from down a set to beat the latter’s compatriot, sixth-seeded Bernarda Pera 5-7, 7-6(8), 6-4 after two hours and 47 minutes of play. Pera faced 22 break points of which she saved 18. In comparison, Cocciaretto faced nine break points of which she saved five. In fact, for the match, Cocciaretto had one fewer point than her opponent’s 123.
In the top half, another American, Lauren Davis advanced to the semi-finals. Davis beat Xinyu Wang 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 25 minutes.
Davis won 66% of her first-serve points and 69% of her second-serve points. She also won 60% points on return on Wang’s second serve. Davis did lose her serve once but converted four of the six break points she had on her opponent’s serve.
Seeking a spot in the Hobart International final, Davis will next take on Anna Blinkova. Blinkova upset the eighth seed Yulia Putintseva, 6-3, 6-4 in 100 minutes in their quarter-final match.
Photo Credit: Hobart International Twitter
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