(Stuttgart) Number 1 Iga Swiatek defeated Karolina Pliskova 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Friday to earn a place in the semi-finals of the Stuttgart tournament.
Prior to Thursday’s win over Zheng Qinwen, Swiatek hadn’t played since the Indian Wells semi-finals last month due to a rib injury.
Her next rival will be third seed Ons Jabeur, who defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3, 6-0.
Earlier Friday, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka prevailed 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 ahead of Spaniard Paula Badosa.
Badosa broke in the first game of the second set and led 4-2 when Sabalenka, the last Australian Open champion, won the next seven games to force a third set and build a 3-cushion. 0 in the deciding round.
In the semifinals, Sabalenka will face Russia’s Anastasia Potapova, who beat France’s Caroline Garcia 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.