Noskova reached maiden WTA 1000 semifinal, ends Kartal’s China Open run

Czech sensation Linda Noskova has swept into her debut WTA 1000 semifinal at the China Open, and the dream run by Britain's Sonay Kartal was halted by a resounding 6-3, 6-4 win on Friday, October 3. 

The 20-year-old is the youngest Czech to make the round since the tournament debuted in 2009.

The quarter-final match was taken over by Noskova following an early break-even by both players in the first set. 

In the seventh and the ninth games, she got uncontested breaks and took the set.

High on a career-best victory over world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva in the last round, Kartal answered back by breaking serve early in the second set. 

But her lead was unable to sustain in the face of the constant force of Noskova.

The world No. 27 plunged instantly on the offensive, and, with her service clattering into a sublime swing, gave out no more than two points in the remainder of the set.

One hour and ten minutes later, she closed the deal and now has a 2-0 record against Kartal in the year.

The defeat concludes a breakthrough tournament for the 23-year-old Kartal, who will see her ranking rebound to a career-high of world No. 60, making her the new British No. 2.

For Noskova, the win sets up a semifinal clash against either Jessica Pegula or Emma Navarro, where she will be the only non-American in the final four.