China Open 2023: Medvedev through to semifinals, Swiatek wins on debut in Beijing

China Open 2023:

Third-ranked Daniil Medvedev overcame a second-set stumble to beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 and eased into semifinals of the China Open on Monday.

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The Russian struggled to find his usual fluid game in the first two sets but sprung to life in the third set to shake off the 36th-ranked Humbert and progress to his 10th semifinal of the year.

"I'm kind of happy that I managed to raise my level in important moments, except a game in the second set," Medvedev said. "It's great that I managed to still find in this tough match these moments of consistency, which is enough to win. That's what you have to do."

The Russian will next face either eighth-seeded Alexander Zverev or Nicolas Jarry, who play later Monday.

Second-ranked, and top-seeded, Carlos Alcaraz plays his quarterfinal match against seventh-seeded Casper Ruud in a night match.

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Making her first appearance at the China Open, second-ranked Iga Swiatek advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Sara Sorribes Tormo.

The Pole fired 27 winners and made 25 unforced errors, breaking serve a total of seven times in the win.

"You have to be patient with her because she's running for every ball," Swiatek said of her No.55-ranked Spanish opponent. "I kind of wanted to just be solid and be intensive but not make too many mistakes with risking."

Swiatek will next face Varvara Gracheva. Seventh-seeded Ons Jabeur, winner of the Ningbo Open last week, beat Ashlyn Krueger 6-3, 6-4 and ninth-seeded Caroline Garcia was a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Kateryna Baindl.

China's Wang Xinyu beat wildcard Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 6-3 and 11th-seeded Daria Kasatkina defeated Mayar Sherif 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8).

Third-ranked Coco Gauff plays her first-round match later Monday against No.20-ranked Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Jelena Ostapenko, seeded-13th, had a walkover into the round-of-16 after Linda Noskova withdrew due to illness. Ostapenko will face either fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula or Anna Blinkova next.

Also in the second-round, Anhelina Kalinina defeated Daria Saville 6-2, 7-6 (5) and Jasmine Paolini beat Yuan Yue 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. 

(With agency inputs)

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