WTA LINZ: Aryna Sabalenka cruise into Semis after beating Oceane Dodin as Elise Mertens also reach Semis

Two top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Elise Mertens ranked number one and two respectively have both reached the semi-finals of the Upper Austria Ladies LINZ, and remain on course for a blockbuster final.

Sabalenka reached the semis after seeing off Oceane Dodin in straight sets, with the Frenchwoman being forced to retire midway through the first set.

Dodin started brightly in the opening set, but Sabalenka got her mojo back and pulled her weight back in the tie at the first opportunity, breaking back after a lengthy game.

The Belarusian eventually won quite easily by a 6-3 winner in the first set after forging ahead in the penultimate game.

Dodin was forced to retire in the second set when it was locked at 3-3.

The top seed Sabalenka faces Barbora Krejcikova, who defeated Sabalenka’s compatriot Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-3, 6-1 next.

Watch the match highlights below…

In the other half of the draw, Elise Mertens cruised past Veronika Kudermetova who was seeded fifth to reach the last four of the WTA in LINZ.

The Czech, Kudermetova, started brightly racing into a 3-0 lead, but her Belgian opponent soon rammed in an impressive display to earn five straight games to win the first set 6-4.

The second set was far more straightforward, with Mertens running out a 6-1 winner, converting her third match point.

Mertens, however, will next face Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Alexandrova defeated French Open semi-finalist Nadia Podoroska 6-2, 6-1 but could not get past Elise Mertens.