Sun Xinran advances to Guangzhou semifinals

On October 30, in the quarter-finals of the WTA 250 Guangzhou Open, Chinese player Sun Xinran defeated American Claire Liu in straight sets to advance to the semi-finals.

In the first set, Sun created break points in each of Liu's first two service games but failed to convert. She held her own serves to stay level at 2-2. In the fifth game, Sun earned another break point and finally converted. After a solid hold, she led 4-2. Both players held serve until Sun served for the set at 5-4, where she was broken, making it 5-5. In the 11th game, Sun broke to love to regain control. Serving for the set a second time, she made no mistake, taking the first set 7-5.

In the second set, the first eight games went with serve. In the ninth game, Sun failed to convert three consecutive break points, but held her own serve to make it 5-5. In the 11th game, Liu held serve, but then squandered six set points on Sun's serve. Sun battled through a tough hold to force a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Sun took a 2-0 lead and entered the changeover leading 4-2. After the changeover, she won three straight points to claim the tiebreak 7-2, winning the match in straight sets.

In the semi-finals, Sun Xinran will face qualifier Harriet Dart for a spot in the final.