Cincinnati Masters: Barty enters semifinals; Wild-card coachman stuns Olympic gold medalist Bensico

Top-ranked Ash Barty defeated Barbora Krejcikova 6-2, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Western and Southern Open on Friday.

Barty will face two-time Cincinnati finalist Angelique Kerber, who won her quarterfinal after two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova retired during the second set due to a stomach problem. Kerber won the first set 6-4 and was tied 3-3 in the second.

Barty defeated Kerber in the Wimbledon semi-finals in July. He has distributed his six matches.

“He’s one of the best competitors in the world,” Barty said. “Angie is never far from her best. Even on the days when she’s not playing her best tennis, she finds a way to stay in the matches. When you play against Angie, You ride a fine line of not applying too much pressure, but also not being very defensive where he can get you around the court.”

1 for 87 weeks, hasn’t lost a set this week in Cincinnati, the tune-up event for the US Open.

“That’s really why I’m here to play a lot of good matches against the best players before I go to the US Open,” Kerber said. I am looking forward to playing against Ash again.

Barty’s biggest challenge so far this week came from Heather Watson in the second round. Barty has since sent out Victoria Azarenka and Krejcikova in straight sets.

The sweltering heat and humidity did not deter the Australians in the first match of the morning at the Lindner Family Tennis Centre.

“It was like a Brisbane summer day,” Barty said. “The heat is definitely not a problem for me. It’s good to play the first match. You know when your start time is, which isn’t very regular in the tennis world.”

Barty won the first serve against Krejcikova with an 84% percentage and four of the eight break points. He only had 15 unforced errors. Barty had seven aces on Friday and has 15 aces in the tournament.

“I think I’ve done a good job taking care of my own service,” she said. “I felt like I was in control of it for a long time. It allowed me to be more free on Barbora’s service games. Overall, I was able to use my forehand and slice effectively.”

Barty won Wimbledon in July, but lost in the first round of the Tokyo Olympics two weeks later. Looks like he’s gotten his stroke back in Cincinnati.

“I think it’s good to play a few matches here in Cinci now,” Barty said. “Every match you get to play in different conditions and you get used to it. I am able to just adjust and adapt and I look forward to my next one, no doubt about it. “

Jill Teichmann didn’t celebrate when she defeated fellow Swiss and Tokyo gold medalist Belinda Bencic in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. Teichmann ended his close friend’s nine-match winning streak.

“Once we step onto the court it’s business, it’s just one more player I have to deal with,” Tekman said. “He had the same mentality.”

Teachman, a wild card who stunned No. 2 ranked Naomi Osaka on Thursday night, continued her unexpected run against No. 5 seed Karolina Pliskova in Saturday’s semifinal.

When asked if she expected to stay in the position, Tekman said she was not looking forward.

“No, I am going match after match because I know every match is a big challenge and I need to win to get the next chance,” she said.

Pliskova won when Paula Badosa retired in the second set due to injury.

Five of the top eight men in tournament history advanced to the quarterfinals for the 11th time.

Top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Daniil Medvedev reached his third consecutive quarter-final in Cincinnati with a 6-1, 6-1 win over No. 7 seed Pablo Carreo Busta.

Medvedev, who has yet to lose more than three games in a match this week, will face fellow Russian Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals on Saturday. He has never lost to Rublev in four meetings.

“It’s always a new match,” said Medvedev. “He plays with great intensity. Serves well. Always a tough match. Right now, my confidence level is very high.”

Second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will face third seed Alexander Zverev in the second men’s semi-final on Saturday.