The American reached her first WTA final since Rabat in 2022, where she lost to Martina Trevisan 6-2, 6-1. The 26-year-old reached her career-high ranking of No. 53 in April 2023.
How Liu beat Shubladze in the Hong Kong semi-finals
Neither player could hold a lead for long in the opening set. Liu held to love in the opening game and broke for 2-0, but Shubladze broke back immediately and again to lead 3-2 before Liu levelled at 3-3. Shubladze held to love for 5-5, then dropped serve at 5-6 as Liu converted her second set point.
Both players saved two break points in their opening service games of the second set. Second serves told the story of the match. Shubladze saved six of the 11 break points she faced, but won 21% of her second-serve points, against 50% for Liu.
Liu faces Sakkari or Eala next in Hong Kong
She then beat Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez 6-1, 6-4 in the quarter-finals. Against Sakkari or Eala, she will play for her first WTA singles title at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open.
Shubladze, 21, came through qualifying with wins over China’s Ying Zhang, 6-4, 6-3, and Australia’s Emerson Jones, 6-4, 6-2. In the main draw she beat Russian compatriots Liudmila Samsonova 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 and Elena Pridankina 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-3. She then defeated Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-3 in the quarter-finals.
Liu’s path to the final
First round: d. Tatiana Prozorova (Q) 6-2, 6-4
Second round: d. Katie Boulter (8) 7-5, 6-4
Quarter-final: d. Zeynep Sonmez 6-1, 6-4
Semi-final: d. Alexandra Shubladze (Q) 7-5, 6-4
Shubladze’s path to the semi-finals
First round: d. Liudmila Samsonova (7) 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
Second round: d. Elena Pridankina (LL) 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-3
Quarter-final: d. Sorana Cirstea (1) 6-2, 6-3
Semi-final: lost to Claire Liu 7-5, 6-4