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Aoyama, Shibahara secure SF spot at WTA Finals; Jurak, Klepac upset Stosur, Zhang to stay alive

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — No.2 seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara mounted two robust comebacks to defeat No.4 seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Demi Schuurs, 6-4, 7-6(5) on Day 3 on the 2021 Akron WTA Finals Guadalajara.

That win assured the Japanese duo a spot within the semifinals. The second doubles match of the day was a battle to keep away from elimination: No.7 seeds Darija Jurak and Andreja Klepac triumphed 6-7(10), 7-6(4), [10-5] in a one-hour, 54-minute nailbiter over No.5 seeds Samantha Stosur and Zhang Shuai. The consequence not solely meant that Stosur and Zhang can’t advance to the final 4, however ensured that Aoyama and Shibahara will end high in Group Tenochtitlán.

Aoyama and Shibahara, who’re making their Finals debut, entered the match with a 2-1 report in opposition to Melichar-Martinez/Schuurs, with each of their wins coming this season. Every time they’ve crushed the American-Dutch workforce, they’ve gone on to win the title (Yarra Valley Basic and Eastbourne). 

Melichar-Martinez and Schuurs jumped out to a fast 3-0 lead with aggressive play on the internet that put the No.2 seeds on their heels. However there was no panic for Aoyama and Shibahara, who broke Schuurs to get again on serve at 4-4 after which surged ahead.

After a maintain from Shibahara to go forward 5-4, the Japanese workforce earned its first set level after Melichar-Martinez double-faulted at 4-5, 40-30. They transformed off a powerful second-serve return from Shibahara in direction of Schuurs on the internet, which was punched nicely lengthy.

The second set started the identical as the primary with Melichar-Martinez and Schuurs as soon as once more pocketing an early break to steer 2-0. However the No.4 seeds couldn’t maintain on to their lead, as Aoyama and Shibahara leveled the set at 2-2 and the groups proceeded to change service holds.

Aoyama and Shibahara would earn three match factors with Melichar-Martinez serving at 4-5, 15-40, however didn’t convert. They have been saved at bay on a key rally at 30-40 when Melichar-Martinez struck a pitch-perfect defensive lob that landed on the baseline and earned an error from Shibahara. 

After an change of holds, whereby Melichar-Martinez and Schuurs saved two extra match factors for a working complete of 5, the groups moved to the tiebreak. Again-to-back double-faults from Melichar-Martinez gave Aoyama and Shibahara a fast 3-0 lead, which Shibahara prolonged to 4-0 with a powerful poach off the return.

Melichar-Martinez would shut the hole to 3-4, however an ideal Shibahara lob winner earned the Japanese workforce two extra match factors at 6-3. Melichar-Martinez helped wipe away two with an ace, however Aoyama and Shibahara lastly transformed on their eighth match level to seal a 2-0 report in Group Tenochtitlán and a 3-0 report over the American-Dutch workforce in 2021. 

Like Aoyama and Shibahara, Jurak and Klepac are additionally WTA Finals debutantes – and on the ages of 37 and 35 respectively, have needed to wait longer than most to succeed in these heights. However the Croatian-Slovenian duo seized their alternative with gusto in opposition to US Open champions Stosur and Zhang, taking part in some scintillating tennis and displaying large fortitude.

All 4 gamers served strongly. There have been no breaks within the first set – certainly, there was just one break level, saved by Stosur within the first sport. Within the second stanza, a mid-set change of breaks between Jurak and Stosur was the interruption to the movement of holds.

All of it got here all the way down to the tiebreaks. The primary set culminated in a mini-epic that noticed Stosur and Zhang save two set factors earlier than lastly seizing their fourth after Jurak netted a forehand. However the much less skilled pair stayed robust to stage the match, taking their third set level after a deep Klepac forehand elicited a shanked Stosur backhand that ricocheted straight into an unsuspecting Zhang’s again.

Jurak and Klepac saved their finest for final. The super-tiebreak noticed them win the 2 finest factors of the match with spectacular all-court scrambling, and Klepac sealed their first match level with a service winner.

“I am very joyful particularly,” stated Klepac afterwards. “It is my first win on the Finals so lastly I break a barrier!”

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