Hsieh and Ostapenko Advance to Semifinals at WTA Finals
The No. 6 seeds, Hsieh Su-wei and Jelena Ostapenko, moved closer to the semifinals in the WTA Finals by defeating the top seeds Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini with a score of 6-3, 6-4 on Day 3 in Riyadh.
Following the victory of Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens over Asia Muhammad and Demi Schuurs in the second doubles match of the day, Hsieh and Ostapenko officially secured their spot in the semifinals as group winners.
Previously, Hsieh and Ostapenko had a slow start against Kudermetova and Mertens, trailing 6-1, 4-2 before pulling off a comeback. However, they quickly regained form against Errani and Paolini, establishing control from the outset.
Hsieh commenced the match with a spectacular return winner, quickly enabling them to take a 3-0 lead. Ostapenko also performed exceptionally, executing high-risk volleys and using slices to set up powerful groundstrokes.
In contrast, Errani and Paolini appeared unusually subdued and struggled to find their rhythm throughout the first set. Although Errani began to make an impact at the net in the second set, Ostapenko’s determination led to a decisive turnaround in the final game, where she won the match point, assisted by Hsieh’s volley finish.
This victory was particularly sweet, reversing the 6-4, 6-0 defeat they experienced against Errani and Paolini in last month’s Beijing semifinals. After the match, Ostapenko praised Hsieh’s performance while acknowledging the pressure they felt from their opponents.
Kudermetova and Mertens’ Narrow Victory Sets up Decisive Match
Kudermetova and Mertens bounced back after a previous loss to Hsieh and Ostapenko, managing to secure a 6-4, 6-7 (6), [10-6] win against Muhammad and Schuurs. This victory places them in a crucial match against Errani and Paolini, with a semifinal position on the line.
