Shock and chalk: Amanda Anisimova and Tatjana Maria, Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev to play for grass titles

That was the first word uttered by Camila Giorgi after responding to an initial on-court question about her performance Friday at the Merida Open Akron.

It was a perfect description, after Giorgi trounced No. 2 seed Sloane Stephens, 6-0, 6-0, to claim a one-sided quarterfinal.

Giorgi was untouchable on serve, winning 24 of 29 points. She reached 40-0 or 40-15 in all six of her trips to the line.

On the contrary, Stephens held a total of three game points—two in her opening service game and one in her first game on serve in set two. Giorgi managed to break on both occasions to grab early set leads and ran away to advance after just 47 minutes.

Giorgi is bidding for her first title since capturing the WTA 1000 crown at Montreal in 2021.

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The free-swinging Giorgi ate up the conditions in delivering 12 winners to only five unforced errors. She improved to 4-2 against the former US Open champion.

This was Giorgi’s first double-bagel win on the WTA Tour. Her lone prior 6-0, 6-0 scoreline came in 2011 at an ITF $50k event in Carson, Calif. over Ashley Weinhold. As for Stephens, she failed to win a game in a completed match for the first time at all professional levels.

In the semifinals, Giorgi will take on Katerina Siniakova. The No. 4 seed defeated seventh-seeded Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 6-1, 5-7, 6-0. The winner of Saturday's matchup will face either American Caty McNally or qualifier Rebecca Peterson, who ousted top seed and Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette to reach the final-four stage.

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