Semi-finals at the WTA Elite Trophy: Bertens turns the match, Sabalenka deals with Muchova

World number 10 Bertens, who missed WTA Finals in Shenzhen just by a few points was first to step on the court during the semi-final day in Zhuhai. She faced home wild-card Saisai Zheng.

For the first hour it seemed as another successful day for a home player when she led already 6-2 and 2-1 with a break in the second set. But despite the huge support from the home crowd, Zheng was not able to win the match when Bertens won second set 6-3 and third 6-4 to turn the match and advance into the finals. After the match she said:

"I knew I had to do something else, because Saisai was putting so much balls back on the court and I just had not the energy to play those long rallies. I was just mixing it up, trying to do some serve and volley, which was working pretty well, I was surprised with that. So I just kept on going for it. She gave me some mistakes also, so then I start believing that I could still turn this match around."

Another 2 players to fight for the spot in the final were Karolina Muchova and Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka defeated her doubles partner Mertens, to reach semifinals in Zhuhai. The match was full of turns and twists as it was Muchova who earned a break as first in the first set. But Sabalenka was able to level the score and convert 6th break point to win the set 7-5. Muchova had a set point in the second set, but she was not able to use it and lost in the tie-break 4-7.