In the semifinals of the 2026 “Dadongwu” Huzhou International Women’s Tennis Open, top seed Tamara Eriavec defeated No. 4 seed Wang Xiyu 6-4, 7-6(3) on the red clay, ending the Chinese player’s impressive comeback streak. Meanwhile, No. 3 seed Katarzyna Kawa cruised past No. 5 seed Guo Hanyu 6-4, 6-1 in the other semifinal. Over at the ATP Challenger in Jiujiang, Sun Fajing lost to Hong Kong’s Huang Zelin but still secured a spot in the French Open qualifiers and reached a new career-high ranking.
Wang Xiyu: Leads 5-2 in Second Set but Loses Two Service Games to Exit
Wang Xiyu faced Eriavec for the first time in their careers. In the first set, the defending champion relied on steady baseline play and sharp clay-court movement to take control on key points, winning 6-4. The second set saw Wang raise her level, using her backhand down the line and overhead smashes to build a commanding 5-2 lead. But just as a decider seemed certain, the Chinese star faltered in her next two service games, committing unforced errors and dropping her first-serve percentage. Eriavec capitalized by breaking back to level at 5-5. In the tiebreak, the Slovenian seized the lead and closed out 7-3.
Since her return in March, Wang has won three consecutive titles including Ma’anshan and Baotou, pushing her win-loss record to an astonishing 21-2. Although she fell short tonight, this strong run has laid a solid foundation for her return to higher-level events.
Guo Hanyu: Unable to Overcome Red-Hot Kawa
In the other semifinal, Guo Hanyu struggled to find a breakthrough against world No. 163 Katarzyna Kawa. The first set stayed tight until the seventh game, when Kawa converted her second break point and held serve to claim the set. In the second set, the Pole exploded, winning five straight games to lead 5-0. Guo broke back to avoid a bagel, but Kawa sealed the match 6-1 on her sixth break point opportunity, wrapping up in under 70 minutes.
This tournament marks Kawa’s best performance this season. After a three-set quarterfinal, she dominated her way to the final, where she will face top seed Eriavec for the title.
Sun Fajing: Stops in Jiujiang Semifinals but Clinches French Open Qualifier
In the ATP Challenger semifinal in Jiujiang, Sun Fajing fell 3-6, 4-6 to Hong Kong’s Huang Zelin, who fired 12 aces and eliminated his second Chinese opponent in a row after beating Bu Yunchaokete. Despite the loss, Sun’s tournament run has been highly rewarding. Riding an eight-match winning streak on the Challenger circuit, his live ranking jumped to No. 195, a career best, and he has already secured a spot in the French Open qualifying draw—a significant milestone for the veteran player.
Looking Ahead: Tomorrow’s final at Huzhou International Red Clay Tennis Center will feature top seed Eriavec against No. 3 seed Kawa, a first-time meeting. Eriavec has not dropped a set all tournament, while Kawa’s dominant semifinal form makes her a dangerous opponent. In Jiujiang, Huang Zelin will face Australia’s Walton for the men’s singles title.
