Semifinal preview: Tsurenko v Niculescu

13 January 2017, by Leigh Rogers

It is semifinal day and a spot in the Hobart International 2017 final is up for grabs…

Lesia Tsurenko v (3) Monica Niculescu
Centre Court, not before 7pm

Head-to-head: Niculescu leads 1-0
Last meeting: Niculescu 6-2 6-3, Indian Wells, 2011

The second semifinal of the day pits Ukrainian world No.61 Lesia Tsurenko against Romanian world No.40 Monica Niculescu. They were two of the form players late in 2016, both winning WTA titles. This is Niculescu’s best result in eight visits to Hobart, while Tsurenko is also enjoying her best run here, having lost in qualifying in two previous visits. The pair have not played each other since 2011.

Tsurenko’s road to semifinal… 
Main draw round one – def. (LL) Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) 6-2 6-3
Main draw round two – def. (11) Johanna Larsson (SWE) 6-4 6-4
Main draw quarterfinal – def. Shelby Rogers (USA) 4-6 6-4 6-3

Tsurenko says: “Monica is a really tough player. Her goal is to win every point, she wouldn’t let you win any of those because she will fight, everyone knows it and her forehand is very unusual. For me it’s going to be a tough match.”

Key stat: The 27-year-old Tsurenko has won 16 of her past 19 matches, stretching back to a US Open fourth round run and includes her second career title in Guangzhou.

Niculescu’s road to semifinal… 
Main draw round one – def. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 6-2 6-3
Main draw round two – def. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-3 6-2
Main draw quarterfinal – def. (Q) Risa Ozaki (JPN) 6-4 6-4

Niculescu says: “I want to do good here, because I love it here.”

Key stat: The 29-year-old Niculescu is riding a wave of confidence, having won 11 of her past 13 matches. Her high first service percentage has been the key to her recent success – and has been steadily improving throughout the tournament, from 84 per cent in her first round, to 90 per cent in the second and 93 per cent in yesterday’s quarterfinal.