Marie Bouzkova has rallied to topple top-seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 3-6 6-3 in their semi-final at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington after a long weather delay.
Australian Open champion Sabalenka led 2-1 in the third set when lightning and rain stopped play for more than three hours. She had withdrawn from Wimbledon a month earlier because of a shoulder injury.
Czech Republic’s Bouzkova reached her first WTA 500 final and will face Paula Badosa of Spain, a 6-3, 6-3 winner over American Caroline Dolehide in the first semi-final.
Bouzkova won her lone career title in 2002 in Prague.
Ranked as high as No.2, Badosa has slipped to 62nd after a back injury sidelined her for six months last year.
In the men’s semi-finals, second-seed Ben Shelton faces 10th-seeded Flavio Cobolli of Italy, and fourth-seed Sebastian Korda plays No.5 Frances Tiafoe in an all-American match.
Source Agencies
