CHARLESTON, S.C./WASHINGTON, March 15, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
With an eye toward next week’s WTA 1000 Miami Open, Diana Shnaider is putting together a fearless, memorable week in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
On Thursday, the 19-year-old 74th-ranked Russian teenager continued her string of outstanding performances by defeating No. 85 Oceane Dodin of France, 6-3, 6-2, in 59 minutes to advance to the semifinal round of the WTA Tour‘s Fifth Third Charleston 125 at LTP Mount Pleasant.
The seventh-seeded Shnaider has not dropped a set through her first three matches and Thursday’s victory over Dodin was indicative of the success that the swashbuckling, bandana-wearing lefty has enjoyed this week after bowing to World No. 9 Maria Sakkari in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. earlier this month.
Diana Shnaider (photo: Fifth Third Charleston 125)
Against Dodin, Shnaider dominated on her serve, hitting 11 aces to zero double faults. She won 79 percent of her first-serve points, saved the only two break points she faced and outpointed Dodin 60-40. Shnaider won 52 percent of her second-serve return points and converted three of seven break-point opportunities. She benefited from six double faults by Dodin.
“I definitely learned that I’m capable of hitting 11 aces in a match,” Shnaider said afterward, when asked what she learned about herself. “It was very awesome how well I served today.”
After winning the opening set on her third set-point chance with her third ace out wide, soon, Shnaider set up match point with her 11th ace. She won her quarterfinal match on the next point after Dodin hit a second-shot backhand wide.
“Before Miami, it’s good to have some wins against players who are inside the Top 100,” said Shnaider, who improved to 11-5 in all competitions this season, including her first WTA title won in Thailand.
“This tournament is pretty tough with a lot of high-ranked players,” she added. “This is a good opportunity to have some really tough matches before Miami.”
After Dodin knocked out No. 3 seed Martina Trevisan of Italy, ranked 59th, from the tournament a day earlier in three hours and one minute, the 27-year-old Frenchwoman was asked to compare the difference of playing in a WTA 125 versus a 250, 500 or even a 1000. “I think the WTA 125 is more difficult,” she said. “Girls are more motivated because they are here to defend or take points, and it’s always a great fight.”
Despite coming up short against Shnaider, Dodin said she likes this kind of 125 tournament “because you feel at home more than other tournaments. The atmosphere is more cozy.”
Yafan Wang (photo: Fifth Third Charleston 125)
In Friday’s semifinal round, Shnaider will face No. 6 seed Yafan Wang of China, who eliminated 98th-ranked Russian qualifier Erika Andreeva, 6-2, 6-4, in 90 minutes.
After breaking Andreeva’s serve three times to win the opening set, the 66th-ranked Wang broke her opponent for the seventh time to push ahead 5-4 with victory coming into focus. Then, serving for the match, Wang won on her first match point after Andreeva hit a forehand service return long.
Wang capitalized on her return efficiency, winning 60 percent of her total returns. She outpointed Andreeva 64-47 and has now won all six sets she has played this week strung out across three straight victories.
Minnen, Cocciaretto reach semifinals
Greet Minnen (photo: Fifth Third Charleston 125)
Meanwhile, in the other half of the draw, 81st-ranked Greet Minnen of Belgium gutted out a 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3 victory over No. 96 Rebeka Masarova of Spain that stretched across two hours and 32 minutes to reach her first WTA semifinal of 2024.
Minnen withstood 10 aces from Masarova to win 78 percent of her second-serve return points. Despite being broken six times while facing 15 break points, she converted six of 11 break points and outpointed her opponent 113-109.
“This 125 is very easily compared to a [WTA] 250, since a lot of strong players are here and since the organization here is very good and professional,” said Minnen. “I really enjoy playing here and hope I can continue.”
Next, Minnen will face No. 4 seed Elisabetta Cocciaretto. The 60th-ranked Italian eliminated 123rd-ranked qualifier McCartney Kessler of the United States, 7-5, 6-3, in an hour and 34 minutes.
Elisabetta Cocciaretto (photo: Fifth Third Charleston 125)
Cocciaretto is through to her first WTA semifinal of the season thanks to playing a steady match, in which she won 77 percent of her first-serve points, converted three of eight break points and outpointed Kessler 74-57. Cocciaretto has not lost a set in her three Charleston wins this week.
After breaking Kessler to secure the 53-minute opening set, Cocciaretto sprinted to a double-break 4-0 lead in the second set. Finally, serving for the match at 5-3, she won on her fifth match-point try after Kessler hit a second-shot forehand return wide.
The highest seed remaining, Cocciaretto improved to 7-6 in main-draw matches and 8-7 overall this season.
Doubles: Top seeds Khromacheva and Niculescu advance
No. 1 seeds Irina Khromacheva of Russia and Monica Niculescu of Romania went the distance to win their quarterfinal match over Luksika Kumkhum and Peangtarn Plipuech of Taiwan, 6-3, 3-6, 10-6, to advance to their first semifinal as a team. Khromacheva and Niculescu, who outpointed their opponents 65-60, will oppose No. 4 seeds Sara Errani of Italy and Tereza Mihalikova of Slovakia, who rallied to beat Harriet Dart and Heather Watson of Great Britain, 4-6, 6-2, 10-6.
The other semifinal will pair No. 3 seed Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan and Shuai Zhang of China against Olivia Gadecki of Australia and Olivia Nicholls of Great Britain.
Danilina and Zhang defeated Americans Dalayna Hewitt and Maria Mateas, 6-1, 3-6, 10-7, while Gadecki and Nicholls advanced over Catherine Harrison and Sabrina Santamaria of the United States, 6-2, 6-1.
