adminWimbledon champion Petra Kvitova moved into the semi-finals of the inaugural Wuhan Open in China with a 6-3 6-4 win over France’s Caroline Garcia. After beating the world number 49, Czech third seed Kvitova said she was now “more relaxed” on court. “I think that my mind is a little bit clearer than it was. That’s probably that I’m playing better,” Kvitova said.
Canadian sixth seed Eugenie Bouchard also sealed a semi-final place, beating Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-3 7-5.
The 20-year-old, who lost to Kvitova in this year’s Wimbledon final, was too strong for Cornet, despite a late fightback from 5-2 down to 5-5 in the second set.
Bouchard took the next two games and the match, but said: “I feel like I could have closed much better. There is no excuse for that. That’s something I really need to work on is closing out better in my matches. It’s happened a few times this week.”
Cornet, ranked 22nd in the world, had progressed in the earlier rounds after world number one Serena Williams retired with illness.
Kvitova will face Elina Svitolina in the first semi-final of the £1.5m hardcourt event after the Ukrainian beat German seventh seed Angelique Kerber 6-4 7-6 (7-3). — BBC Sport
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