By Tony Fairbairn
- Katie Boulter [2] def Anastasia Zakharova 6-4 6-0
- Boulter v Yue Yuan [6] | H2H: First Meeting
HONG KONG – Katie Boulter thrashed Anastasia Zakharova with the loss of four games to set up a semi-final with sixth sees Yue Yuan in Hong Kong.
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Katie Boulter [2] def Anastasia Zakharova 6-4 6-0
Katie Boulter is into her fourth semi-final of the season after defeating Anastasia Zakharova in straight sets. The British number one achieved her second consecutive WTA semi-final with a dominant performance over the world number 113. However Boulter didn’t have it all her own way as she had to fend off a resilient first set from Zakharova with the second seed being denied a break in the second game of the match.
After overcoming early nerves and passive play, Zakharova gained more confidence as the set went on as she started to read Boulter’s serves. Some consistently good play allowed Zakharova to exploit Boulter’s weaknesses as she created two break points in the seventh game. Some clutch serving saw Boulter save the break points though as she wrapped up the opening set with a comfortable break in the tenth game.
Winning the last two games of the opening set gave Boulter confidence and momentum in the second set with the Brit only losing three points on serve in the second set. A clinical returning display saw Boulter break on three occasions, sealing a run of eight consecutive games and a place in the semi-finals in Hong Kong.
Katie Boulter [2] v Yue Yuan [6] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Katie Boulter [2] v Yue Yuan [6] | H2H: First Meeting |
| WTA Hong Kong 2024 | Hong Kong |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $11,610 |
| First on Center Court (06:00 GMT) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
Boulter will now aim to reach her third final of the season when she takes on Yue Yuan in the last four.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2024)
| H2H: | Katie Boulter (WR 29) | Yue Yuan (WR 45) |
| Tournament Previous Best | N/A | N/A |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 34.8 | 36.4 |
| Return Points Won % | 43.1 | 43.4 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 41.4 | 41 |
| Break Point Saved % | 57.1 | 55.4 |
| Total Points Won % | 51.1 | 50 |
Both players have similar stats heading into this crucial match but Boulter’s clutch serving under pressure could be a key factor against a consistent returner like Yuan.
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Playing styles and prediction
This week has been a breakthrough week for Yuan who has really struggled for consistency and quality this season. Now the sixth seed aims for her second final of the season as she looks to put pressure on a seeding place for the Australian Open.
Boulter will aim to continue her efficiency and dominance on serve as she looks to shorten the points with her forehand. Meanwhile Yuan will be resilient from the baseline and aim to extend the rallies, making this a war of attrition. This should be a tough match for Boulter but as long as she can continue to be aggressive in the rallies then she should win this contest.
Prediction: Boulter in three sets.
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