We’ve reached the semi-final stage at the China Open, with Mirra Andreeva, Nikola Bartunkova, Qinwen Zheng and Elise Mertens all looking to seal their spots in the showpiece event. Elsewhere, Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime begin their campaigns at the Shanghai Masters.
14:45 CET – Home hope Qinwen Zheng is through to the China Open final after a confident 7-5, 6-2 semi-final victory over Elise Mertens in Beijing.
The Olympic champion has enjoyed a resurgence of late after dropping out of the top 100 earlier in the year, and the 24-year-old proved too strong for Mertens, converting four of six break-point chances in a clinical performance on home soil.
Zheng becomes the first-ever Chinese player to reach the China Open final, as she prepares to face fourth seed Mirra Andreeva in tomorrow’s showpiece.
14:29 CET – Fresh from winning his 27th career title in Tokyo earlier in the week, Carlos Alcaraz has made a convincing start at the Shanghai Masters, with the Spaniard outclassing Juan Manuel Cerundolo in a 6-3, 6-3 triumph.
Alcaraz, who fired down 24 winners in a superb all-round display, will face either Ignacio Buse or Zizou Bergs next.
Alcaraz cruised into the Shanghai Masters third roundREUTERS / Tyrone Siu
14:01 CET – Learner Tien has battled through a tricky opening match in Shanghai, with the 14th seed seeing off fellow American Zachary Svajda in two competitive sets, 7-5, 7-5.
Tien was imperious behind his serve, winning 88% of first-serve points, while he didn’t face a single break point in the contest.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is also through to the third round after an impressive 6-3, 6-4 win over 18th seed Luciano Darderi.
12:55 CET – We’re just moments away from today’s second semi-final in Beijing getting underway, as home favourite Qinwen Zheng takes on Belgium’s Elise Mertens for a place in tomorrow’s showpiece.
Follow point-by-point coverage right here!
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12:26 CET – Despite a spirited second-set showing from Yunchaokete Bu, Norway’s Casper Ruud has sealed his place in the next round in Shanghai courtesy of a 6-1, 7-6(2) triumph.
12:09 CET – Talented Frenchman Arthur Fils is the latest man to advance at the Shanghai Masters after a fairly routine 6-3, 6-4 victory over Russia’s Pavel Kotov.
Fils struck 24 winners to just nine unforced errors in the contest, and will face either Alex Michelsen or Botic van de Zandschulp in the third round.
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10:54 CET – Taylor Fritz has ended a run of three successive defeats with a morale-boosting 7-5, 6-4 triumph over Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi to progress to the third round in Shanghai.
The 11th-seeded American will face either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Luciano Darderi next.
Fritz celebrates his victoryREUTERS / Go Nakamura
10:23 CET – Mirra Andreeva is through to the China Open final after a dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory over Czechia’s Nikola Bartunkova in just 75 minutes.
It was an assured display from the French Open champion, who never allowed Bartunkova to settle into the contest, as she struggled to recapture the form that saw her upset Karolina Muchova and Aryna Sabalenka earlier in the tournament.
Andreeva advances to her fourth WTA 1000 final and will rise to a career-high No. 3 in the updated rankings.
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09:50 CET – Over in Shanghai, fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime has survived an almighty tussle, with the Canadian outlasting Camilo Ugo Carabelli 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-5 in just under three hours.
The 26-year-old, who is defending a significant amount of ranking points in the coming weeks, won 84% of points behind his first serve and saved five of seven break-point opportunities.
09:18 CET – Mirra Andreeva and Nikola Bartunkova are now underway in today’s first semi-final in Beijing, with a place in tomorrow’s showpiece up for grabs.
Follow point-by-point coverage right here!
08:13 CET – Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev is the first winner of the day in Shanghai, with the former champion recovering from a slow start to see off Jan-Lennard Struff in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Having been defaulted from his last match – a semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic in Beijing – Medvedev looked in fine nick against Struff, firing down 40 winners and converting 88% of points behind his first serve.
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Spain’s Rafael Jodar and Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka have also progressed at the Shanghai Masters after battling wins over Thiago Agustin Tirante and Nuno Borges, respectively.
07:30 CET – Good morning and welcome to our coverage of today’s tennis in Beijing and Shanghai!
It’s women’s semi-finals day at the China Open, with fourth seed Mirra Andreeva taking on surprise package Nikola Bartunkova in a couple of hours at 09:00 CET.
The French Open champion is contesting her fourth WTA 1000 semi-final, and is the strong favourite against Bartunkova, despite the Czech rising star seeing off Karolina Muchova and Aryna Sabalenka earlier in the tournament.
Following that clash, home favourite Qinwen Zheng continues her recent resurgence as she takes on Elise Mertens, who has impressively dispatched Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff en route to the last four.
Read more on both semi-finals here!
Meanwhile, in Shanghai, fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, Spanish sensation Rafael Jodar and 2019 champion Daniil Medvedev are currently on court for their opening matches of the tournament.
Later on, recently crowned Tokyo champion Carlos Alcaraz takes on Juan Manuel Cerundolo, while Valentin Vacherot begins his title defence against Sebastian Baez.
Check out the full schedules in Beijing and Shanghai via the links!