Russian wildcard Kuznetsova earned her second Top 5 victory this week and advanced to her first WTA final of the season by beating world No.2 Ashleigh Barty, preventing the Australian from yet again overtaking Naomi Osaka at the top of the rankings. It was another case of Barty making a slow start and trying to dig out, but the resurgent Kuznetsova, currently ranked 153rd, gave her no room to recover and progressed with a 6-2 6-4 victory.
Seed No.16 Madison Keys was helped by 14 aces in the victory over fellow American Sofia Kenin 7-5 6-4.
Our Jimmie48 attended both the women’s semifinals, as well as the women’s doubles final in which eighth seeds Lucie Hradecka and Andreja Klepac defeated fifth seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Demi Schuurs 6-4 6-1.