Katie Boulter advanced to the final of the Hong Kong Open as she defeated Yue Yuan in three sets.
Boulter finished strongly to beat Yuan 6-2 5-7 6-2.
British No 1 Boulter, who reached the semi-finals in Tokyo last week, is continuing her run of good form.
A wobble did give away the second set. Boulter had been in a commanding position only for a sudden slump to allow Yuan to take a break point. Another error handed the game to Yuan, who roared back into contention backing up that break with a hold of serve in the next game.
Yuan advanced to 6-5 in the second set and kept the pressure on Boulter. Eventually, with the Briton striking too long, Yuan reached break point, which she duly converted.
Boulter moved into the final of the Hong Kong Open. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Boulter faced Yuan’s serve to open the third set. She won a frenetic rally to bring the game to deuce and eventually forced a break point her way. She wrong-footed Yuan expertly to seize the first game of the deciding set.
She held serve in the next game and broke again as Yuan faltered with a double fault that handed Boulter the third game as the Briton extended her advantage even further.
Yuan made Boulter work harder to hold serve in the fourth game of the third set but eventually she managed to, moving 4-0 ahead in the decider.
Yuan clawed back two games but Boulter calmly made sure of the finish, landing an ace to seal the third set and take up a place in the final in Hong Kong.
She will play Russia’s Diana Shnaider in Sunday’s final after the No 1 seed beat Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-2 in the other semi-final.
“That was an unbelievable match,” Boulter said after beating Yuan. “She makes it so hard to win any point in the match. I just had to keep believing, keep fighting and try and find a way through.
“I managed to find a way so I’m really happy with that.
“I just wanted to finish my year on a career high [ranking], which is why today meant so much to me.”
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?
- Hong Kong Tennis Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Jiangxi Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Merida Open Akron – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Rolex Paris Masters – ATP 1000 (October 28 – November 3)
- WTA Finals Riyadh – (November 2-9)
- Belgrade Open – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
- Moselle Open, Metz – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
- Nitto ATP Finals, Turin – (November 10-17)
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