Friday's play has emerged the semifinals field in both the ongoing WTA 125 challengers being played in Paris and Florence this week.
Katie Volynets and Caty Mcnally set up the all-American clash in the semis of Paris event. Volynets has overcame the 7th seeded local favorite Alize Cornet after winning 7-5 2-6 6-2. McNally was playing against Nao Hibino and did not disappoint as the pre-matc favorite to move up into semis. The American has dominated her opponent in the opening set, winning 6-2 without facing any single breakpoint. The second one started better for the Japanese, who was leading 3-1. McNally came back from this by winning 4 games in a row. The world's number 62 did not need to serve for this match, as her opponent has withdrawn within a score 6-2 5-3.
Diane Parry is the last standing French player in the draw after making quite an upset on the 4th seed Linda Noskova. The French was a dominant force in the opening set, as she won it 7-5, but could make it through earlier, as Parry created 8 breakpoints in compare to no danger created by her opponent in this set. The local favorite has followed the blow in second set and gained another break in the opening game, which was the longest out of whole the match. Noskova defended 4 breakpoints, but did not manage to save the 5th one and lost the game, which was 8 deuces long. Parry was still on fire and added another break in 7th game which occured to be decisive to seal the 7-5 6-2 victory. The French will face Varvara Gracheva in the semis. The second seed has eliminated her fellowcountry Kamilla Rakhimova in straight sets 6-2 7-5, despite being 3-5 down in second set.
The Italians do well in their home tournament in Florence, as 3 out of the semifinalists are the local representatives. Jasmine Paolini has prevailed in the only one three-setter of the day, by winning over Ylena In Albon 4-6 6-4 6-4. The highest ranked player who still stays in the contention, managed to come back from being 1-3 down in the deciding set. Lucia Bronzetti will be her opponent after winning 7-5 6-3 over the Australian, Priscilla Hon. The match between Sara Errani and Eugenie Bouchard was expected to be the most exciting one on Friday's afternoon in Florence, but it has lasted just 10 games because the Canadian has withdrew due to the knee injury within a score 6-3 1-0 from Errani's perspective. Bouchard who tries to climb back into the top areas of the ranking has still no good luck with the health issues, as she approached the match with the all taped knee, which occured to be not fit enough to fight till the end. Taylor Townsend has denied the all-Italian semis squad by scoring the routine win over Matilde Paoletti, 6-3 6-2. The American will face Sara Errani in the bottom half's semifinal tomorrow.
