Ningbo Open: Shnaider ends Fruhvirtova’s run to make the final

Russian Diana Shnaider defeated Linda Fruhvirtova 6-4, 6-1 to reach the final of the Ningbo Open.

Fruhvirtova had put in a spirited run in China, after a difficult season in which the rising young Czech has struggled for consistency at the highest level of the WTA.

Shnaider, ranked No 85, will face the winner of the match between Tunisian Ons Jabeur, the top seed, and Argentinian Nadia Podoroska next.

In the previous rounds, the 19-year-old Russian won against Chinese qualifier Zhuoxuan Bai (6-4, 1-6, 6-2), Kamilla Rakhimova (6-3, 6-2) and second seed Petra Kvitova (6-1, 4-6, 6-3).

Fruhvirtova, ranked No 117, won against Spaniard Rebeka Masarova (1-6, 6-2, 1-0 ret.), Russian Anna Blinkova, the No 4 seed (6-3, 3-6, 6-1) and Italian Lucia Bronzetti, the No 8 seed (6-0, 6-3) earlier in the tournament.