Iga Swiatek sets up Ons Jabeur semi-final at Stuttgart Open with comeback win over Karolina Pliskova

Iga Swiatek defeated Karolina Pliskova 4-6 6-1 6-2 to reach the Stuttgart Open semi-finals.

Swiatek had cruised past Qinwen Zheng in their round of 16 match, while Pliskova was taken the distance by Donna Vekic in their match-up.

The 21-year-old was the favourite as the world No. 1 but Pliskova has 10 years more experience than her Polish opponent, and was a former No. 1-ranked player herself in years gone by.

Pliskova had her younger rival on the back foot for the early stages of the first set and broke her twice to Swiatek’s once, giving her the first set.

Swiatek started more confidently in the second set and broke her opponent to race into a 3-0 lead, before breaking again to 4-0 and overcoming the briefest moment of resistance to move level on a set apiece after wrapping things up 6-1.

In the third set, Swiatek pushed hard to break her 31-year-old rival and broke her consistently to move to 5-2 ahead and to serve for victory.

Earlier in the day, Ons Jabeur defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3 6-0 to reach the next round in Germany.

Anastasia Potapova came from behind against French veteran Caroline Garcia, winning 4-6 6-3 6-3.

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka also went a set down before completing a 4-6 6-4 6-4 victory against Spain’s Paula Badosa.

On Saturday, Potatopova will face Sabalenka, with Jabeur to take on Swiatek.

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