Babos on course at Tashkent Open

28 September 2017

Tashkent , September 28:   Highest Surviving seed Timea Babos of Hungary kept herself on course for a shot at the singles title playing out Swiss player Stefanie Voegele in straight sets , Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus was the other player  to make to the singles semifinal of  the  19th edition of Tashkent Open WTA Championships being played at the Olympic  tennis School in Tashkent.

In the quarterfinals played  on a rain marred  cold day today  second seeded Babos took 1hr.03 mins to dispose off Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland 6-4,6-4, 19 year old Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus made it her first career tour Semifinal stopping last year's semifinalist Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine 7-6(5),3-6,1-6 in 2hrs.08 mins battle.

In the third semifinal sixth seed Aleksandra Krunic lead  qualifier Vera Zvonareva 3-2 as rains forced suspension of play , the other quarterfinals between Kurumi Nara of Japan and Keteryna Bondarenko was also postponed to tomorrow.

It was a challenge to get warmed up because it was cold , I started well  "in the second set Voegele seemed to read me and looked sharp, but I stepped up and  served well to end the match said Timea Babos, who has not yet dropped a set in the tournament.

Babos who finished finalist at Quebec city and Budapest earlier this year will now clash with 19 year old Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

119 ranked Sabalenka who battled cold and an experienced Kateryna Kozlova ranked 77   raced to a 3-1 lead in the opening set, but Kozlova held her serve and  broke back to level scores  3-3 , both Sabalenka and Kozlova Traded breaks  forcing a tiebreak, Sabalenka looked quicker on the court to take the tie break and the set 7-6(5) .

In the second set Kozlova seemed to get over the cold and rallied well to claim the set 6-3 and force a decider. In the third set Sabalenka proved too solid hitting winners at will on both sides to take the set 6-1 and register a win over a player ranked 48  places higher  and make her first ever Semifinal on the tour .

It's a great result for me in Tashkent, I didn't expect Kozlova to get the second set so easily , I played a powerful   third set  , I  enjoyed the match " Said Sabalenka after her match.

I've had a mixed season so far  , I had a good season on grass , but a bad season in the US tournaments , my Aim is  to play main draw at Australian open and this win helps me stay on my target  , Asked about the semifinal opponent  and chances , She said "  I'm thinking match by match and enjoying  time on court ".

Following are the Results Singles Quarterfinals

Aryna Sabalenka (Blr) bt Kateryna Kozlova (Ukr)  7-6(5),3-6,6-1

Vera
Lapko