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Linda Noskova’s the only seed and the only Czech player left in the Prague Open draw. The fourth seed defeated Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the quarter-finals to reach the semi-finals of her home event. The 18-year-old needed just 54 minutes to claim a 6-0, 6-2 win over the Slovakian.
Noskova won 70% of her first-serve points and 68% of her second-serve points. She also won 72% points on return on Schmiedlova’s first serve and 80% points on return on the latter’s second serve. Noskova saved two of the three break points she faced.
She also converted six of seven break point chances on Schmiedlova’s serve. This is the second semi-final for the Czech teenager. Earlier, at the start of the year, she reached the semi-final of the Adelaide International en route to making it to her first-ever career final there.
Now, looking to reach the second WTA final of her career, Noskova will take on Tamara Korpatsch.
Prague Open: Could Linda Noskova get her career-first title this week?
The German upset sixth seed Alize Cornet in their quarter-final meeting in an hour and 51 minutes.
The 28-year-old won 7-6(3), 6-1. Korpatsch won 66% of her first-serve points and 60% of her second-serve points. She also won 60% points on return on the Frenchwoman’s second serve and 53% points on return on the latter’s first serve.
Korpatsch could save only one of the four break points she faced but she converted six of 10 break points she had. At the top of the draw, Jaqueline Cristian upset eighth seed Kateryna Baindl in their last-eight match-up. The Romanian needed two hours and four minutes to post a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 win over the Ukrainian, who’s had some good form recently.
Two weeks back, Baindl had made the final of the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest (lost to Maria Timofeeva). Cristian’s opponent in the semi-final of the Warsaw Open will be Nao Hibino. The Japanese, who got into the main draw as a lucky loser, ousted Linda Noskova’s compatriot, Tereza Martincova in the quarters. Hibino won 6-1, 6-2 in 69 minutes.