By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Coco Gauff lived up to her status as world No. 4, ending Alexandra Eala’s run with a 6-0, 6-2 victory in the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships quarterfinals early Friday morning (PH time) in the United Arab Emirates.
The third-seeded American needed only one hour and seven minutes to beat the Filipino star, who ousted sixth seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy, 6-1, 7-6(5), in the second round.
Gauff will face the winner between No. 7 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Antonia Ruzic of Croatia in the semifinals.
Jessica Pegula of the United States, seeded fourth, also advanced after defeating No. 12 seed Clara Tauson of Denmark, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
Pegula, ranked No. 5 in the world, will battle second-seeded compatriot Amanda Anisimova, who conquered fifth seed Mirra Andreeva of Russia, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(4).
In the doubles, Laura Siegemund of Germany and Vera Zvonareva toppled No. 7 seeds Storm Hunter of Australia and Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic, 7-6(4), 6-4, to reach the Final Four.
They will face the winner between Chan Hao-Ching of Chinese Taipei and Tauson, and Romanians Jaqueline Cristian and Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Fourth seeds Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan and Aleksandra Krunić of Serbia won over Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine and Desirae Krawczyk of the US, 6-1, 4-6, 10-6, to advance to the semis against No. 5 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Luisa Stefani of Brazil.
Dabrowski and Stefani survived Guiliana Olmos of Mexico and Pegula, 6-2, 4-6, 14-12. (PNA)
