Top-ranked Chinese player Wang Qiang reached her first China Open semifinal in Beijing on Friday, as she moved past Wuhan Open champion Arnya Sabalenka in straight sets of 7-5, 7-5.
Following China's former No.1 Li Na, Wang became the first Chinese woman to make the China Open semis since 2012, extending her 8-match winning streak. Before that, Wang Qiang upset former world No.1 Pliskova to move into the quarterfinals on Thursday.
"It really helps me to believe in myself when there are difficulties," Wang said in a press conference. "I trust myself on court. When I'm up or down, I trust myself to be able to overcome the situation."
Wang's fluidity of play worked wonders just as Sabalenka's tendency to accumulate unforced errors worked against her in the first set.
Wang relied on her ability to go cross court and withstand Sabalenka's baseline assault on return, holding her serve throughout the second, saving two break points and going on to break Sabalenka to pull ahead and never look back, sealing the straight-set victory in one hour, 47 minutes.
Wang Qiang after beating Sabalenka. /VCG Photo
Earlier, No. 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki beat Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 6-2. Wozniacki will meet with Wang Qiang in semifinals.
Wozniacki won over Wang in the first round of last year's China Open, while Wang claimed the first Top 10 win of her career over Wozniacki in Kuala Lumpur five years ago.
Wang Qiang made a shining progress this year to pick up her first two WTA singles titles in Nanchang and Guangzhou, plus a semifinals in Wuhan a week ago.
(With inputs from Xinhua)