Allertova Stuns Halep in Guangzhou

September 24, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Allertova_Pic

Romanian Simona Halep was ousted from the Guangzhou International Women’s Open in China on Thursday, as WTA Rising Star Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic defeated the world number two 6-4, 6-3 to reach the tournament’s semifinals.

This match was on pace through the first nine games, but at 5-4 up in the opening set, Allertova won six of the next seven games to build a commanding 6-4, 5-1 lead. And despite Halep getting one break back, Allertova secured her second career top 10 win with a backhand winner down the line.

“I have amazing feelings because I won against Simona Halep—she’s a great player, ranked number two,” said Allertova. “I don’t know. I was just trying to focus every point, not looking who’s on the other side, just focusing on myself and playing my tennis. I was fighting every point and it worked. I’m so happy.”

The 22-year old Allertova had only won her first match against a top 10 player just a couple of weeks ago, over Carla Suarez-Navarro at the U.S. Open. She had never played a player ranked inside the top five, clearly making this the biggest win of her young career.

“It was my first time playing such a top player like this, but at the U.S. Open I played against Suarez-Navarro, also an amazing player, a top 10 player, and I beat her,” she added. “But it’s the first time in my life to have a win like this.”

Allertova will meet third-seeded Italian Sara Errani in the semifinals. Errani rolled past eighth-seed Saisai Zheng 6-1, 6-0 to book her spot in the final four.

The other semifinal in Guangzhou will pit Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer against fourth-seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.

Wickmayer upset sixth-seed Monica Niculescu 6-2, 6-2, while Jankovic got past fifth-seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 7-5. 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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