American Riske Reaches Shenzhen Final
American Allison Riske continued her strong start to 2016, defeating Hungary’s Timea Babos 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Shenzhen Open finals. Riske gave herself 12 break point opportunities, converting on five of them to dismiss Babos in straight sets.
“It was definitely a tough match for me,” said Riske. “Babos is a great competitor and a great player, so I had to be there on every point, and I’m excited that the match came out in my favor in the end. I’m also excited to be in the final—it’s a great start to a season to reach a final.”
In the final, Riske will face Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska.
The top-seeded Radwanska had no problems in her semifinal on Friday, knocking off Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-2, 6-4, as she continued to run through the Shenzhen draw without dropping a set.
Friedsam trailed 0-2 in the second set before evening things up at 2-2, but Radwanska was just too tough, and broke right back for a 3-2 lead before serving out the rest of the match.
“I’ve been feeling food from the beginning of the year,” said Radwanska. “I’ve been playing some good tennis, especially here in Shenzhen this week, and now I have one more match to go to win here.”
By reaching the final, Radwanska will pass Maria Sharapova for fourth in the world rankings.
Radwanska and Riske have met just once prior, a 6-3, 6-1 Radwanska victory in the opening round of Indian Wells last year.
In Auckland, New Zealand, Germany’s Julia Goerges dismissed Austrian qualifier Tamira Paszek 6-4, 6-2 to book her spot in the ASB Classic final. She will play the winner of American Sloane Stephens and Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki.
Stephens held a 5-2 first set lead over Wozniacki before play was suspended due to rain. It will be finished later today.
