Clara Tauson cruise past Stearns to set up clash with Magda Linette

[p]Thanks to the win, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tauson-clara/2PPTHPya/"]Tauson[/a] got revenge for the defeat against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stearns-peyton/YsJXLo1O/"]Stearns[/a] at the US Open in 2023. On Tuesday, Tauson started by breaking a nervous Stearns, who is ranked 58th in the world rankings and was in the main tournament as a "lucky loser" in the qualification.[/p][p]In the following game, Tauson fended off two break points and held serve to take a 2-0 lead.[/p][p]It visibly deflated the 24-year-old Stearns, and when Tauson continued to deliver two flawless service games and again broke the American to take a 5-2 lead, the first set was virtally decided.[/p][p]Tauson's game did include unforced errors, but the error rate was kept at a reasonable level compared to Stearns, and Tauson made the American work hard for every single point. [/p][p]Stearns broke back to 1-1 in the second set, but after a hard-fought game, had to have treatment for a sore shoulder.[/p][p]Four matches in four days - including two three-set matches in qualifying - had apparently left their mark on the American.[/p][p]Tauson saved a break point and broke cleanly to lead 3-2, which was crucial as she was subsequently very focused in her own service games.[/p][p]The Dane delivered 11 service aces on Tuesday, and combined with Monday's victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kenin-sofia/IJAxNUl3/"]Sofia Kenin[/a], she has now made 31 aces in just four sets.[/p][p]Tauson is the defending finalist in Dubai and thus has several points to defend in the tournament.[/p]