Clara Tauson Advances to Abu Dhabi Semifinals, Her First of the Season
Clara Tauson has advanced to the semifinals of the Abu Dhabi Open. She achieved this milestone by defeating American player McCartney Kessler in straight sets, with scores of 6-3 and 6-4.
Match Highlights
The two athletes previously faced each other in December 2023, where Kessler secured an unexpected victory in two sets. This time, however, Tauson demonstrated her skill on the hard court in Abu Dhabi.
- Tauson was broken in her first service game, following a double fault.
- She quickly equalized, breaking back to make it 1-1.
- As the match progressed, Tauson displayed her signature hard-hitting baseline play.
- Her strategic drop shots and slices troubled Kessler significantly.
- Tauson claimed a 4-2 lead after breaking Kessler’s serve.
In the second set, Kessler took a medical timeout, but this did not hinder her gameplay. She maintained a high level of intensity and power. Despite this, Tauson’s finesse and variation were key throughout the match.
Decisive Moments
- Kessler had multiple chances to break Tauson’s serve.
- Tauson broke Kessler’s serve at a critical 4-4 juncture.
- Despite facing a couple of break points, Tauson successfully served out the match.
With this victory, Tauson now prepares to face the winner of the upcoming match between Britain’s Sonay Kartal and Czech player Sara Bejlek in the semifinals of the Abu Dhabi Open.
