Watson continues unexpected run to reach semis in Tianjin Open

All four semifinalists in the Tianjin Open are unseeded after Magda Linette, Yulia Putintseva and Dayana Yastremska crashed out.

World number 125 Heather Watson.

Heather Watson continued her surprise run at the Tianjin Open by beating Magda Linette to reach the semifinals after saving four match points on Friday.

The Brit had not won a hard-court match on the WTA Tour for over a year before this week, but is two wins away from being crowned champion after a 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (8-6) victory over the eighth seed.

World number 125 Watson was taken the distance after seeing a match point come and go in the second set and forced a tie-break after Linette had four chances to wrap up the quarter-final.

The unseeded Watson eventually prevailed by securing a ninth mini-break in the final set and will face Veronika Kudermetova in the last four.

Russian Kudermetova toppled third seed Dayana Yastremska 6-4, 6-0 in a battle of heavy hitters.

There will be no seeds in the semifinals after Ons Jabeur defeated Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4). 

Jabeur will come up against Rebecca Peterson with a place in the final at stake following the Swede's 6-7, (5-7) 6-4, 6-2 success against home hope Wang Yafan.