Iga Swiatek, ranked second in the world, clinched a spot in the women’s semifinals of the China Open. On Friday, she staged a comeback from a set down against Caroline Garcia, winning a match that was decided by extremely close tie-breaks.
The Pole won 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 to set up a clash with either US Open champion Coco Gauff or world number six Maria Sakkari.
A tense opening set culminated with a marathon tie-break that Garcia — ranked 10th — eventually won with a vicious cross-court passing shot.
The stubborn Frenchwoman then bounced back from 1-4 in the second set to lead 6-5 and threatened to take the match until a limp backhand gifted another tie-break to her opponent.
From there, Swiatek took control, notching a double break in the deciding set and finally taking match point at the fifth time of asking.
In Friday’s other quarter-finals, world number one Aryna Sabalenka will play fifth-ranked Elena Rybakina, while 17th-ranked Jelena Ostapenko faces Liudmila Samsonova of Russia.
The China Open is taking place for the first time since 2019 after Beijing ended strict zero-Covid travel curbs.
The men’s competition concluded on Wednesday when Italy’s Jannik Sinner beat world number three Daniil Medvedev in the final.
