Hopes of an ASB Classic semi-final between tennis stars Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska have been dashed, with the Pole losing 6-2 6-2 to unheralded American Sachia Vickery in Saturday’s quarter-final.
The vanquisher of defending Classic champion Lauren Davis, Vickery simply had too much power for Radwanska, who was well off her game.
The 22-year-old raced out to an early first-set break before nullifying the world No.28 Radwanska’s serve twice more to secure a 6-2 win.
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She was even more effective in the second set, breaking on three successive occasions to earn a 5-0 lead before eventually serving out the set 6-2.
Vickery will face either Wozniacki or Sofia Kenin in Saturday afternoon’s semi-final, with the Danish star yet to finish her match on centre court.
The game, in its third set, has been dogged by rain delays.
“I was just so bad in that match, I couldn’t feel anything on court – no rhythm, no nothing,” the 28-year-old Radwanska said.
“I don’t think (Vickery) had to do much today, in that match.
“You just want to forget about those matches.”
In the other semi-final, German second seed Julia Goerges will play Su-Wei Hsieh after the Taiwanese player knocked out Czech Barbora Strycova.
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Goerges, meanwhile, made light work of Polona Hercog.
The women’s singles schedule is heavily backlogged due to Thursday and Friday’s Auckland downpours, which cancelled all play and pushed both the quarter-finals and semi-finals into Saturday.
The final will now be held on Sunday.
Weather also forced Classic organisers to push the women’s doubles competition indoors on Friday, with both semi-finals taking place inside.
In the doubles final, which will be held on Sunday, favourites Sara Errani and Bibiane Schoofs will take on Japanese duo Eri Hozumi and Miyu Kato.
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