In-form Zhu to take on Tsurenko for Thailand Open title

Lin Zhu advanced to the final of the Thailand Open by defeating No 7 seed Xinyu Wang 6-2, 6-4 at the True Arena Hua Hin on Saturday.

Zhu, ranked No 54, will face Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko, who was leading 7-5, 4-0 when her opponent, Bianca Andreescu, quit with a shoulder issue.

“I’m happy right now,” Zhu said. “We’re close friends, it was always going to be very tough to play against each other because we know each other so well, so I’m happy that I handled it very well. Towards the end it’s a bit windy but I just keep telling myself to keep more first serves and be more patient, I’m happy with the results.”

Earlier in the tournament, Lin Zhu won against No 3 seed Xiyu Wang (4-6, 6-3, 6-0), Su Jeong Jang (6-4, 7-6 (6)) and Slovenian Tamara Zidansek (6-2, 6-2).

Wang, ranked No 81, won against Swiss qualifier Joanne Zuger (6-2, 6-2), Swede Mirjam Bjorklund (6-3, 6-3) and Heather Watson (6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-4) in the previous rounds of the Hua Hin tournament.

Hua Hin WTA 250, other semi-final result (True Arena Hua Hin, hard, USD 259.303):

• Lesia Tsurenko beat Bianca Andreescu 7-5, 4-0 rtd