WITHDRAWALS galore across the three WTA Tour tournaments as players having little niggles opted to take a rest given the short turnaround to the Australian Open, presenting others with chances for their maiden titles.

World number one Ash Barty might have had the walkover when Serena Williams pulled out of the pair’s semi-final at the Yarra Valley Classic, but Garbine Muguruza walked all over her opponent in the other semi-final. Coming up against eighth seed Marketa Vondrousova, the Spanish Grand Slam winner never gave her a look in, dominating 6-1 6-0 in just 53 minutes to blitz her way into the final.

Muguruza won almost 70 per cent of the match points, and only dropped three points off her first serve, and eight in total off her serve, breaking Vondrousova five of a possible six times from 11 chances. It was one-way traffic the entire match, and the experienced Spaniard denied Vondrousova the chance to set up a 2019 Roland Garros final rematch.

The final takes place at 11am today.

YARRA VALLEY CLASSIC SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:

[1] Ash Barty (AUS) defeated [5] Serena Williams (USA) W/O
[6] Garbine Muguruza (ESP) defeated [8] Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) 6-1 6-0

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In an eerily simply circumstance to the Yarra Valley Classic, just one semi-final was played after second seed Naomi Osaka pulled out before the match due to injury. The Japanese young star’s withdrawal handed seventh seed Elise Mertens safe passage into the decider, to now face unseeded Estonian Kaia Kanepi.

Kanepi at least had a match, overcoming ninth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova to continue her ripping form of late, battling to a 6-4 7-6 win, with the second set tiebreaker being 8-6. The victory will give her match fitness ahead of the contest with Mertens, as Kanepi broke three times – from only the three chances, whilst saving two of five break point opportunities from the Russian. She was impressive off her opponents’ second serve, and whilst Alexandrova was more consistent on serve, Kanepi was the stronger one across the court.

In the final tomorrow, Kanepi is gunning for her fifth career title – and a big boost to her 94th world ranking – while the 20th ranked Mertens is eyeing off her sixth career WTA Tour title. It will also be Mertens’ second consecutive final appearance after going down to Aryna Sabalenka in Linz late last year.

GIPPSLAND TROPHY SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:

[7] Elise Mertens (BEL) defeated [2] Naomi Osaka (JPN) W/O
Kaia Kanepi (EST) defeated [9] Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) 6-3 7-6

It would not have been a complete day without a withdrawal in the third WTA Tour tournament, as third seed Victoria Azarenka also withdrew ahead of her quarter final with sixth seed Estonian Anett Kontaveit. The latter will advance through to the semis unscathed, coming up against fifth seed Maria Sakkari.

The Greek talent knocked off Angelique Kerber in straight sets to secure her place in the final four, winning 6-4 6-2. The match lasted an hour and 16 minutes, with Sakkari working hard to save six of eight break points, whilst punishing Kerber five of six off her own serve. Sakkari was not as consistent off her serve – having a 51.6 per cent efficiency – but a far superior winning percentage of 70 and 52 per cent compared to 46 and 47 per cent respectively.

The other semi-final will feature two Americans, with seventh seed Jennifer Brady continuing her great form from 2020 to book a spot in the semis up against young gun compatriot, Ann Li. Brady knocked off Czech Barbora Krejcikova 7-6 6-4, while Li crushed Sonia Cirstea 6-3 6-1. Having only won her maiden title last year, Brady will head into the semi-final as favourite against the 20-year-old Li who post-tournament will record her highest career ranking to-date (previously 97th), and is aiming for her maiden title.

Sakkari and Kontaveit will do battle up first from 11am, before Brady and Li go head-to-head around lunchtime.

GRAMPIANS TROPHY QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[6] Anett Kontaveit (EST) defeated [3] Victoria Azarenka (BLR) W/O
[5] Maria Sakkari (GRE) defeated [8] Angelique Kerber (GER) 6-4 6-2
[7] Jennifer Brady (USA) defeated Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) 7-6 6-4
Ann Li (USA) defeated Sonia Cirstea (ROU) 6-3 6-1

Picture credit: Getty Images