Xinyu Wang Ends Sara Bejlek’s Run at Prague Open, Advances to Semifinals
A dominant performance by Xinyu Wang has dashed the hopes of a potential all-Czech semifinal at the Livesport Prague Open. The 23-year-old defeated 19-year-old Sara Bejlek 6-4, 6-1 on Friday, July 25, 2025, to secure her place in the final four. This result disrupts Czech dominance in the tournament and sets up a highly anticipated semifinal clash with Linda Nosková.
Bejlek, who reached her first quarterfinals on the highest circuit, had been hoping to continue her impressive run and potentially pave the way for a Czech sweep of the semifinals. However, Wang proved too strong, particularly after a delayed resumption of play due to poor visibility on Thursday evening.
The match resumed Friday morning with Wang already holding the upper hand after securing the first set. The finish was swift, with Wang displaying an aggressive and accurate game that left Bejlek with few opportunities. The Czech teenager managed to win only one game in the second set, concluding the match in approximately half an hour.
“I have to admit that she was playing really well. I didn’t have much to prick today. Whatever I played, she played better. Hat down,” Bejlek told journalists after the match. “According to the result, it was hard enough. Yesterday it was a completely different match than today. I don’t know what happened. I think I played very well, but she played quite brutally. Today I did my best, but it wasn’t enough,” she added.
Despite the loss, Bejlek’s performance represents a significant milestone in her career. Her advancement to the quarterfinals is expected to propel her to a new career-high ranking of 111 in the next edition of the world rankings, marking a crucial step towards her debut in the TOP 100.
This year’s tournament marked the first time in the open era that a completely Czech semifinal was within reach. While Bejlek’s run was halted by Wang, Lucie Havlíčková previously defeated the Chinese player in the previous round.
See the match highlights here: https://twitter.com/WTA/status/93skoq6W4G
Wang will now face tournament number one and top favorite Linda Nosková in the semifinals. Nosková has a challenging record in semifinal matches on the main tour, with a balance of 1:6, only securing a win in her most recent appearance on grass in Berlin. Before that match, Tereza Valentová will compete against former champion Marie Bouzkova for a place in the final.
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The results of the WTA 250 tournament in Prague continue to unfold, promising exciting competition as the final rounds approach.
