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Stosur finds her winning rhythm in Asia

By Jordaan Sanford

Early in this decade, Samantha Stosur was at the top of her game, reaching the French Open final (in 2010), and then dispatching Serena Williams to claim her first Grand Slam title (in 2011). But, it's been a rough couple of years for the Australian, on the singles court.

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 11: Samantha Stosur (R) of Australia celebrates with the championship trophy alongside Serena Williams (L) of the United States who poses with the second place trophy after their Women's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the 2011 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 11, 2011 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for USTA)
© 2011 Getty Images

This week in Guangzhou is a finally a different story. After receiving a wildcard, the world No. 129 is into the final of a WTA event for the first time since winning Strasbourg in 2017. The 35-year-old fell out of the Top 100 earlier this year, but is on her way back up.

Stosur battled her way past Nina Stojanovic, 6-2, 7-6 (1), to set up a semifinal clash against Viktorija Golubic, who she then overcame 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1. She captured her 600th WTA win in the tournament's opening round, making her just the eighth player to cross thee milestone.

Samantha Stosur of Australia hits a return against Nina Stojanovic of Serbia during their women's singles quarter-final match at the Guangzhou Open tennis tournament in Guangzhou in China's southern Guangdong province on September 19, 2019. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
© AFP/Getty Images

It hasn't all been smooth sailing in Guangzhou. Stosur somewhat accidentally kicked the ball on match point in her second-round against Bernarda Pera, and had to close out the win in a deciding tiebreak.

This week is the first time she's won three matches in a row since Mallorca in June 2018. The 2011 US Open champion is now just one win away from claiming her first singles title since May of 2017. She'll take on Sofia Kenin for the title.