Fritz in the semi-finals in Shanghai and Sabalenka to play Gauff in Wuhan

SHANGHAI (AP) — Taylor Fritz advanced to his fifth Masters semifinal with a straight-sets 6-3, 6-4 win over David Goffin of Belgium at the Shanghai Masters on Friday.

The 26-year-old American was in control throughout the 82-minute match and converted three of his seven break points to set up a showdown against four-time champion Novak Djokovic or Jakub Mensik, who will play later on Friday.

“I feel like sometimes it takes a couple of matches to find my routines, to find what feels good and what works for me,” Fritz said. “I feel like once I get through the first two rounds, I feel really locked in. I’ve come this far, so I might as well score it and I’m enjoying being here.”

In the other semi-final on Saturday, first place Jannik Sinner he will face Tomas Machac, who knocked off second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

Wuhan Open

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka produced a masterclass to beat Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-2 6-2 and maintain her unbeaten record at the Wuhan Open.

The Belarusian fired 42 winners in 16 games and finished with her final victory in 1 hour 23 minutes to advance to her eighth semi-final of the year, where she will meet fourth seed Coco Gauff.

Sabalenka, the US Open championhe is now 15-0 in Wuhan after winning the title in his first appearance in 2018 and defending his crown in 2019 before the tournament took a five-year hiatus from the calendar.

Earlier on Friday, Gauff’s impressive Asian swing showed no signs of ending as she defeated Poland’s Magda Linette 6-0, 6-4 for her 50th win of the season.

It was also the 20-year-old American’s ninth straight win in China, a streak that includes victory in the China Open last week, and it was never in doubt as Gauff broke No. 45 Linette four times, hitting 19 winners to Linette’s 13.

“I’m really happy with how I played,” Gauff said. “Obviously a soft first set. I had chances to close it out maybe at 5-3 in the second, but happy I was able to close it out with my serve.”

It was a disappointing end to what would otherwise be an impressive week for the 32-year-old Linette, who had reached her first WTA 1000 quarter-final.

China’s 51st seed Wang Xinyu, who beat third seed Jessica Pegula in the third round, cruised to a tight 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6) win over Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Wang will play as compatriot i Gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris Zheng Qinwen or sixth-seeded Jasmine Paolini, who will play later on Friday.

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AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis