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Jonathan White

China’s No 2 tennis player Wang Qiang is into the semi-finals of the Parma Challenger after beating Petra Martic on Thursday.
Wang, 29, will play Sloane Stephens on Friday afternoon in Montechiarugolo, where top seed Serena Williams saw her French Open preparations damaged with a round of 16 loss to Czech Katerina Siniakova
Sixth seed Wang beat No 2 seed Petra Martic in the quarter-finals on Thursday at the Emilia-Romagna Open, as the tournament is otherwise known.
This is the first year that women have played the tournament, which began as a men’s event in 2019.

Wang Qiang completes the #EmiliaRomagnaOpen semifinal lineup!

The No.6 seed gets the better of a marathon with Martic, 7-6(4), 3-6, 7-5 pic.twitter.com/WXBPl0uEkM
— wta (@WTA) May 20, 2021

Wang won the first set 7-6 after taking the tie break 7-4 but the Croatian took the second set 6-3 to level the scores.
China’s world No 48 showed enough to win the final set 7-5 and set up a semi with US star Stephens.
China’s No 1 Wang crashes out of Australian Open warm-up
Wang had lost in the opening round of her past two tournaments, the Madid Open last month and this month’s Italian Open. Victory over Stephens would see Wang make her first final since 2018. She last reached a semi, a year later at the Bronx Open.
The Tianjin native has won two titles on the WTA Tour and is currently China’s No 2 singles player behind Zhang Shuai, who is in the doubles semi-final at the ongoing Serbia Open with partner Xu Yifan.
The pair play Belgium’s Greet Minnen and Alison van Uytvanck today on the Belgrade clay for a place in the final.

A dropper from Wang Qiang!#EmiliaRomagnaOpen pic.twitter.com/m404Nh0ZY3
— wta (@WTA) May 20, 2021

Back in Parma, No 3 seed Coco Gauff and unseeded Czech Katerina Siniakova play in the other semi-final, which takes place on centre court beforehand.
The 17-year-old Gauff is also in the semi-finals of the women’s doubles where she is part of the fourth-seeded pair along with partner Caty McNally, also of the US.
They take on top-seeds Alexa Guarachi of Chile and fellow US player Desirae Krawczyk.
China’s No 1 Wang Qiang crashes out of Australian Open
The other semi-final sees all-Asian pair sees third seeds HsiehSu-wei of Taiwan and Misaki Doi of Japan meet second seeds Darija Jurak of Croatia and Slovenia’s Andreja Klepac for a place in the final.
Both finals in Parma take place on Saturday, before the men’s tournament is set to start. The French Open is set to begin on Monday with the qualifying rounds.


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WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

China’s No 2 Wang Qiang into first semi-finals since 2018 at Parma Challenger

China’s Qiang Wang in action against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic at the 2021 Madrid Open in April. Photo: EPA

Miami Open: China’s Zheng Saisai and Wang Qiang out, Naomi Osaka marches on

China’s Zheng Saisai in action during her defeat to Karolina Pliskova at the Miami Open. Photo: AFP


Australian Open 2021: Wang Qiang, China’s No 1, crashes out in first round

China's Wang Qiang reacts after losing a point to Italy's Sara Errani during their first round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Photo: AP

China’s No 1 Wang Qiang crashes out of Australian Open warm-up Gippsland Trophy

China's Wang Qiang reacts during her loss to Italy's Jasmine Paolini at a tune-up tournament ahead of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: AP

Italy's Jasmine Paolini reacts during her match against China's Qiang Wang at a tuneup tournament ahead of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill)

Wang Qiang’s Australian Open run shows Chinese tennis is in need of new star

Wang Qiang serves during the Australian Open fourth round match against Ons Jabeur. Photo: Xinhua

Serena Williams of the US reacts after a point against China's Wang Qiang during their women's singles match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 24, 2020. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

(200126) -- MELBOURNE, Jan. 26, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Wang Qiang of China reacts during the women's singles fourth round match against Ons Jabeur of Tunisia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

Li Na of China kisses the championship trophy after defeating Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in their women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Li Na in her quarter-final win over Andrea Petkovik of Germany in the 2011 Australian Open. Photo: Shutterstock

(190904) -- NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Wang Qiang reacts during the women's singles quarterfinal match between Wang Qiang of China and Serena Williams of the United States at the 2019 US Open in New York, the United States, Sept. 3, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

Japan's Naomi Osaka receives championship trophy from China's former tennis player Li Na during the presentation ceremony after her victory against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in the women's singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2019. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Sport

Tennis


Victory over Katerina Siniakova sets up Parma semi with Sloane Stephens and first appearance in last four for two years
Wang is now No 2 behind Zhang Shuai, who is in doubles semi-final at Serbia Open with partner Xu Yifan



Victory over Katerina Siniakova sets up Parma semi with Sloane Stephens and first appearance in last four for three years.


French Open