Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka has booked a final showdown with Clara Tauson, easing through her semifinal against Alycia Parks.
Osaka was far too strong for the unseeded American, winning 6-4, 6-2 to provide fans and organisers with at least one big name in a tournament that lost a few in the early stages.
The Japanese seventh seed will likely be favoured against the fifth-seeded Tauson, with Osaka having shown glimpses of the form that once took her to the top of tennis.
The fifth seed is the highest remaining seed at the tournament, having knocked out No 1 Madison Keys in a weather-disrupted quarter-final earlier in the day. And Tauson was too good for unseeded American Robin Montgomery in the semifinals, winning 6-4, 6-3 to advance to tomorrow’s final.
Tauson will take on the winner of the second semifinal between seventh seed Naomi Osaka and unseeded American Alycia Parks, which is scheduled to begin at 5.30pm.
Tauson take opening set in first semifinal
Clara Tauson has continued to shine on a busy day by taking out the first set in her semifinal against Robin Montgomery.
With a spot in the ASB Classic final on the line, the Danish fifth seed claimed the set 6-4, converting three break points to her unseeded opponent’s three.
It’s been a hectic schedule for Tauson, who completed victory over top seed Madison Keys this morning, winning 6-4, 7-6 (9) after taking the first set last night.
Fourth semifinalist found
Unseeded American Alycia Parks has continued her charge in the ASB Classic with a straight-sets win over compatriot Katie Volynets, 6-1, 6-4.
The match was played on the indoor court at Stanley Street in order to get it completed in a timely manner after weather saw the start of the day’s play delayed.
The contest was one of two that could not be completed yesterday when rain saw play suspended.
Parks made the most of her opportunities in the match, fending off six break points while converting on two of the three she earned to win the first set 6-1 in 33 minutes.
Volynets, the tournament’s eighth seed, got herself into a strong position in the second set at 3-1, but could not hold her serve to extend that lead, with Parks breaking Volynets' next two service games on her way to a 6-4 set win.
Parks will meet seventh seed Naomi Osaka in the semifinals later today, after Clara Tauson and Robin Montgomery’s clash which is scheduled for 3pm.
Top seed eliminated in straight sets
Clara Tauson has booked her place in the semifinals, beating top-seed Madison Keys in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (9).
Tauson, the tournament’s fifth seed, fought back from 5-3 down in the second set to close it out in a tiebreaker. Keys led the second set 4-3 when the match was suspended due to rain yesterday evening, and broke the Tauson serve in the opening game when play resumed.
The Dane held her nerve to break right back, though, and the rest of the set remained on serve. In the tiebreaker, Keys had two set points but couldn’t capitalised, before Tauson converted her first match point.
The 22-year-old is now the highest remaining seed in the tournament, and will meet unseeded American Robin Montgomery in the semifinal later today.
Madison Keys was beaten in straight sets by Clara Tauson. Photo / Photosport
Play moves indoors
With weather seeing this morning’s play delayed - the in-progress quarter-final between Madison Keys and Clara Tauson now not set to start on centre court before 11.45am - the scheduled fourth quarter-final between eighth seed Katie Volynets and Alycia Parks has been moved to an indoor court and will start as soon as possible.
Bumper schedule set after weather delay
With rain suspending play early last night, two of the eventual semifinalists in the women’s draw will have to play twice today as two quarter-finals remain unresolved.
Top seed Madison Keys will resume one set down against Danish No 5 seed Clara Tauson, as that quarter-final was partway through the second set when the rain came down. Keys was up 4-3 in the second set, and will look to close that out when play gets under way around 11am.
The fourth quarter-final will see No 8 seed Katie Volynets meet Alycia Parks.
Already waiting in the semifinals are Robin Montgomery and seventh seed Naomi Osaka, with Montgomery to meet either Keys or Tauson in the first semifinal, which will not be before 3pm.
Should Tauson beat Keys, she could be in action three times today as she also remains alive in the doubles draw, playing alongside American Sloane Stephens and scheduled for a semifinal against Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria in the night session.
