BEIJING: World number four Juan Martin del Potro scythed down Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic 6-3, 6-0 in the China Open on Friday to set up a semi-final clash with Italian Fabio Fognini.

Former US Open champion Del Potro fired down 12 aces and won five out of eight break point opportunities to chalk up a comfortable win over the 26-year-old.

Fourth seed Fognini continued his march towards a fourth title of the season with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Marton Fucsovics of Hungary.

Fifth seed Kyle Edmund edged past Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) as he continued his search for a maiden ATP title.

The Briton next plays world number 34 Nikoloz Basilashvili, who ousted Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

On the women’s side, US Open champion Naomi Osaka powered into the semi-finals with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 win over hometown favourite Zhang Shuai.

Osaka repeatedly found the net in the first set before regaining her rhythm, taking Zhang to five break points in the first game of the second set to help turn the tide of the match.

Osaka faced frustration in the third set as Zhang, cheered on by the Chinese crowd, ran to a 4-1 lead, but Osaka battled back for the win and faces Latvia’s unseeded Anastasija Sevastova in Saturday’s semi-finals.

The other women’s semi-final will be between number two seed Caroline Wozniacki and China’s top player Wang Qiang, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 7-5, 7-5.'

Published in Dawn, October 06th, 2018