From No. 112 to the Top 20: Aslan Karatsev's rise continues with Moscow title, but you wouldn't know it by his reaction

Sabalenka was playing in her first tournament since reaching the semifinals of the US Open last month. She then missed the tournament in Indian Wells, California, after a positive test for the coronavirus.

In Moscow, Sabalenka had a first-round bye and beat Ajla Tomljanovic in the second round.

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Alexandrova converted four of nine break points against Sabalenka Friday.

Sakkari booked her semifinal spot by beating Simona Halep, 6-4, 6-4, after holding off a late surge from the Romanian, who broke back twice from 5-1 down in the second set.

Also, Garbine Muguruza was beaten 6-1, 6-1 in just 48 minutes to Anett Kontaveit after the two-time Grand Slam champion lost three consecutive service games at the end of the first set and start of the second.

Kontaveit is into her fifth semifinal of the year as she seeks to win a third title in as many months after winning the Cleveland tournament in August and Ostrava in September.

Kontaveit plays Marketa Vondrousova, who upset fourth-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-4, 6-2.

In the men’s draw, two-time Kremlin Cup champion Marin Cilic swept past Pedro Martinez, 6-1, 6-2, to set up a semifinal meeting with Ricardas Berankis, who beat Adrian Mannarino, 6-2, 7-6 (1).