China's Wang Xinyu powers into semifinals at Berlin Open

BERLIN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China's Wang Xinyu continued her grass-court surge on Friday, beating world No. 10 Paula Badosa to reach the WTA 500 Berlin Open semifinals.

Wang, 23, swept the opening set 6-1 before Badosa retired early in the second.

Meeting Badosa for the second time this year, after having lost to the Spaniard in straight sets at the Australian Open, Wang served with precision, minimized errors, and broke her opponent three times to race through the first set.

Early in the second, as Wang surged to a 40-0 lead in the opening game, Badosa signaled her retirement due to injury.

After navigating two rounds of qualifying, including a statement win over two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur, Wang ousted world No. 16 Daria Kasatkina in the first round, then stunned newly crowned French Open champion and world No. 2 Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 for her first career victory against a top-two player.

Friday's abbreviated triumph marks her first appearance in a WTA semifinal on grass.

Wang now awaits the winner of the quarterfinal between Russia's Liudmila Samsonova and American Amanda Anisimova. ■