Rybakina, Zhang advance to Hobart International final

Elena Rybakina twice received on-court treatment late in third set Friday and still beat British qualifier Hear Watson 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in semifinals of Hobart International. 20-year-old Rybakina said she pulled a muscle.

"It happened to me for first time and I was a bit scared because it's t a nice feeling," Rybakina said. "It was better after treatment. I will go away to physio and try to recover."

Rybakina, who was born in Russia but represents Kazakhstan, also reached final at Shenzhen Open in China before coming to Australia.

Rybakina will play fourth-seeded Zhang Shuai in Saturday's final. 30-year-old Zhang beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-4.

Zhang, who me quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year and won Australian Open doubles title with Samantha Stosur, reached her third WTA final.

She contemplated retirement after dropping to . 186 at end of 2015 but has finished every year in top 50 since. She will also play in doubles final on Saturday.

(Picture Credits: Pixabay)