China Open: Gauff sets up semi-final clash with Swiatek, Rybakina knocks out Sabalenka

Coco Gauff beat Maria Sakkari 6-2 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the China Open on Friday, extending her winning streak to 16 matches, the longest on the WTA Tour this season. She will face second seed Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals.

Swiatek has won seven of their eight meetings, but Gauff did come out on top in their most recent meeting, in the Cincinnati semi-final.

Gauff, who won her first Grand Slam title at this year's US Open, defeated Sakkari in one hour and 20 minutes, never losing serve against the fourth seeded Greek.

The world number three, will now face world number two Swiatek in Saturday's semi-final after the Pole came back from a set down to defeat Caroline Garcia. 6-7(8) 7-6(5) 6-1

Swiatek came within two points of losing the quarter-final in straight sets after Garcia won the first set on a tie-break, but fought back to force another tie-break.

Swiatek won the match, breaking Garcia's serve three times in the third set to finish in style.

Rybakina in action against Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, was eliminated in the quarterfinals after losing 7-5, 6-2 to fifth seed Elena Rybakina.

Rybakina served 12 aces to Sabalenka's four, and she broke Sabalenka's serve four times.

"I served really well, so I'm really happy with my performance today," Rybakina said.

Rybakina won five consecutive games in the second set after an evenly contested first set.

Rybakina, who lost to Sabalenka in this year's Australian Open final, will face Liudmila Samsonova in Saturday's semi-final after the unseeded Russian defeated 13th seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 6-2. Samsonova has won all three of their previous meetings.

SportsLigue