Veronika KUDERMETOVA (RUS) plays Simona HALEP (ROU) on Rod Laver Arena during Day 5 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Friday, February 12, 2021. MANDATORY PHOTO CREDIT Tennis Australia/ ROB PREZIOSO
Veronika Kudermetova shot down Coco Gauff 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the WTA Doha quarter-finals on Thursday to move into a test against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
The Polish top seed eased into her own final-four place on a walkover as intended opponent Belinda Bencic withdrew with fatigue after knocking out double Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka in the opening round.
Bencic came to Doha after winning the nearby Abu Dhabi event at the weekend.
Eighth seed Kudermetova was able to manage a tricky swirling wind as she put out the fourth-seeded US teen Gauff.
She will aim for a first final since Istanbul in April as she takes a 0-2 record – four sets lost – into the Swiatek match.
Kudermetova earned victory with 18 winners and the same number of unforced errors. Gauff was plagued by 23 unforced errors.
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