Bartunkova beats Muchova to reach China Open semifinals

BEIJING (AP) — Nikola Bartunkova reached her first WTA 1000 semifinal after beating fellow Czech Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0 at the China Open on Thursday.

Bartunkova stamped her authority on the quarterfinal by racing to a 5-0 lead against her seventh-seeded opponent. It was the 20-year-old Bartunkova’s third career win against a top 10-ranked opponent.

She next faces French Open champion Mirra Andreeva or Ekaterina Alexandrova, who played their quarterfinal later Thursday. ___

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