TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese tennis star Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇) and Latvian partner Jelena Ostapenko advanced to the Brisbane International semifinals Wednesday (Jan. 7), defeating their opponents in a super tiebreaker. The top-seeded duo beat Australian player Priscilla Hon and Czech player Karolina Muchova 10-6 in the decisive tiebreaker at the WTA 500 tournament. The pair are preparing for the Australian Open, which begins Saturday (Jan. 18) at Melbourne Park.
Hsieh and Ostapenko dominated the first set with a 6-1 victory, but the Australian-Czech team responded in the second set, winning 6-1 to force a super tiebreaker. In the decisive tiebreaker, Hsieh and Ostapenko took a commanding 6-0 lead before their opponents fought back, tying the score at 6-6. The top seeds ultimately secured the 10-6 win to advance.
Hsieh previously won the Brisbane International in 2020 with Czech player Barbora Strycova, while Ostapenko claimed the women's doubles title in 2024. Last year, Hsieh and Ostapenko made a strong run to the women's doubles final at the Australian Open but finished as runners-up. The pair hope to sharpen their form in Brisbane ahead of the Grand Slam. ◼