Saville charges into Washington semifinals | 6 August, 2022 | All News | News and Features | News and Events

Washington, USA

Daria Saville has advanced to her first WTA-level singles semifinal since February 2018.

The resurgent 28-year-old Australian posted a 6-1 7-5 victory against Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino in quarterfinal action at the Citi Open today.

Saville produced a strong serving display, winning 79 per cent of first serve points, in the 79-minute encounter.

The world No.88, who is projected to verge on a top-70 return following her efforts this week, now faces sixth seed Kaia Kanepi in the semifinals. Saville has played the world No.37-ranked Estonian once before – more than a decade ago in 2011.

Saville, a former world No.20 returning from Achilles surgery, is seeking to reach a fifth WTA singles final – and a first since October 2017.

In men’s singles action, Nick Kyrgios won a rain-delayed third-round encounter against fourth-seeded American Reilly Opelka. Resuming with Kyrgios leading 7-6(1) 2-1, the Australian only needed to play five games to secure victory against the world No.17.

It is Kyrgios’ sixth top-20 victory of the season and propelled him into a quarterfinal showdown with American Frances Tiafoe.

Returning to the court hours later, Kyrgios was at his steely best against world No.27 Tiafoe.

The 27-year-old Australian recorded a 6-7(5) 7-6(12) 6-2 victory after saving five match points in an epic second-set tiebreak.