Kenin powers into first semi-final since Melbourne triumph
Sofia Kenin beat Oceane Dodin 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 in the Lyon last eight on Friday.
LYON (AFP) - Sofia Kenin reached her first semi-final since winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last month by beating France s Oceane Dodin in the Lyon last eight on Friday.
The American top seed bounced back after losing a tight second set to win 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 against the world number 130.
Kenin had ended a three-match losing streak by beating Vitalia Diatchenko in the first round before saving a match point to edge out Romanian qualifier Jacqueline Cristian on Thursday.
"It was still not perfect today, but I definitely feel like I found my rhythm. I was playing well, dictating well," Kenin told wtatennis.com.
"I felt pretty good in the first round -- still not 100 percent, but I still got the win -- and I would say that today was my best game (in the tournament so far)."
The world number five will face Alison Van Uytvanck for a place in her sixth WTA final after the Belgian saw off French third seed Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-2.
Kenin raced through the opening set in just 26 minutes, but was pegged back by a dogged Dodin in the second-set tie-break after failing to serve out the match in the ninth game.
The 21-year-old quickly recovered, though, breaking her opponent three times in the decider before sealing victory on her second match point.
The other semi-final will see seventh-seeded Russian Daria Kasatkina take on Germany s Anna-Lena Friedsam.
