Routliffe, Venus move on in Washington

Asia Muhammad and Erin Routliffe seen here as title winners in Cincinnati 2024 are playing well in Washington this week PHOTO: WTA CINCINNATI

Kiwi Erin Routliffe and American Asia Muhammad have won another tight match in the Washington WTA 500 tournament to beat the Chinese pair of Xu Yifan and Yang Zhaoxuan 6-2 5-7 10-7.

This quarterfinal match was similar to their first round when they defeated Ulrikke Eikeri from Norway and Japan’s Sri Hozumi 6-1 4-6 12-10, but once again, they battled through for the victory.

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Routliffe and Muhammad last played together in Cincinnati last August and took out the title, which was Routliffe’s first triumph at a WTA 1000 tournament.

In the semifinals, Routliffe and Muhammad, who are the top seeds, play the winner of the match between Chan Hao-Ching and Jiang Xinyu against Caroline Dolehide and Sofia Kenin.

Meanwhile Michael Venus and India’s Yuki Bhambri got their new partnership off to a winning start.

In the first round of the Washington ATP 500 tournament, they accounted for Andre Goransson from Sweden and the Netherlands’ Sem Verbeek 6-7(1) 7-6(3) 10-6 in a match that lasted for a minute over two hours.

In the quarterfinals they'll play Neal Skupski from Britain and Australia’s John-Patrick Smith.