Hong Kong Open: China’s Yuan ends Kenin’s late-season surge, Fernandez into final four
Yuan Yue will face No 2 seed Katie Boulter for a spot in the final, while defending champion Leylah Fernandez takes on top seed Diana Shnaider
China’s Yuan Yue said her game still needed work, despite reaching the semi-finals of the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open after beating Sofia Kenin in straight sets on Friday.
With tournament second seed Katie Boulter taking down Anastasia Zakharova of Russia, 6-4, 6-0, in the second match of the day, Yuan will get the chance for some revenge against the 28-year-old on Saturday.
The British world No 29 came out on top 7-5, 7-6 in their only previous encounter, in the first round of this year’s Australian Open in January.
Defending champion Leylah Fernandez, meanwhile, was made to work for her quarter-final win over Bernarda Pera, despite taking the first set easily. The second went to a tie break, which Fernandez eventually won to wrap up a 6-1, 7-6 victory.
She will face top seed Diana Shnaider, who also had to battle her way into the final four, needing three sets to overcome Suzan Lamens 6-0, 6-7, 6-2.
Ranked No 45 the world, Yuan became the first player this week to take a set off former Australian Open champion Kenin.
