Mumbai, October 1: Paula Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula at the China Open on Tuesday to reach her eighth career quarter-final at a WTA 1000-level event. From 3-1 down in the opening set, former No. 2-ranked Badosa dominated in her first-ever win over third-ranked Pegula. Carlos Alcaraz Set To Play Against Daniil Medvedev at China Open 2024 Semifinals: Aryna Sabalenka Extends Winning Streak.

“She's one the of the players I never want to face -- she's very solid, hits very flat, changes very well direction. I prepared myself for a battle, but I think today everything worked pretty well. Every point was very important for me, especially against Jessica, because she can come back at any moment." said Badosa, who was 0-3 previously against Pegula.

Badosa next faces 35-year-old Chinese player Zhang Shuai, who continued her resurgence with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Magdalena Frech of Poland. Zhang entered the China Open on a 24-match losing streak and ranked No. 595, but she's yet to drop a set in four matches this week.

That includes eliminating US Open semi-finalist Emma Navarro in straight sets for her first win over a Top 10 player in two years. Zhang is now in her first women's tour quarter-final since Tokyo in 2022, and her first at a WTA 1000 tournament since Cincinnati in the same year.

Later Tuesday, No. 14-ranked Anna Kalinskaya was scheduled to meet Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine, before the marquee women's match of the day between four-time major winner Naomi Osaka and sixth-ranked Coco Gauff.

It will be the first meeting between the two Grand Slam champions in over two years, with the head-to-head series tied at 2-2. China Open 2024: Jessica Pegula Continues Late-Season Surge With Win Over Veronika Kudermetova.

On the men's side, Carlos Alcaraz was playing fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev in the first semi-final, with the Spaniard holding a 5-2 advantage in their head-to-head history. Defending champion and top-ranked Janner Sinner was set to face No. 96-ranked Bu Yunchaokete, playing in his first ATP 500 semi-final.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)