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Heather Watson Stuns Pavlyuchenkova And Strycova To Reach Eastbourne Semifinals

Published

7 years ago

29/06/2017

Heather Watson defeated two players ranked over 100 places higher than her in the WTA world rankings in one day, finishing with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 win over Barbora Strycova to reach the semifinals at the Aegon International in Eastbourne.

The British number three came through a topsy turvy quarterfinal match in two hours, recovering from a break down in the final set to see off Strycova to become the second Brit to reach the last four.

World number 23 Strycova led their head to head 3-1 and won their last meeting, which came on the grass in Birmingham last year 7-5, 6-4, but it was to be Watson’s day here by the seaside in Eastbourne.

Watson booked her place in the last eight after securing another highly credible victory over a seeded opponent. 14th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was her latest victim, with the British number three winning 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 24 minutes out on Court 4. Her quarterfinal opponent, also unseeded at the Aegon International, Strycova, defeated lucky loser Lauren Davis 7-5, 6-2 to set up this early evening clash on Court 1.

The British number three got off to a fast start and was supported by a packed out crowd. Watson secured a break of serve in the fourth game of the match with an excellent backhand winner down the line and swiftly established a 4-1 lead, with the Brit dictating the early exchanges.

The Czech struggled to make an impact in the match or make her opponent feel uncomfortable out on court in any way as Watson struck a cross court forehand winner to set up break point. The Brit duly took the opportunity with another effective short cross court forehand and secured a double break. Watson had no trouble closing it out, holding to love to secure the first set in emphatic style to close in on a semifinal place.

The opening game of the second set was a tussle and the longest of the match so far. Strycova staved off two break points but then squandered two chances to hold of her own. Watson had another chance to secure a break and make it six games in a row, but the Czech clung on and held serve to try and curb the Brit’s momentum.

Having saved those break points, the world number 23 grew in confidence and broke Watson in the next game, swiftly establishing a 3-0 lead to leave the Brit contemplating those missed opportunities in the first game of this set.

The match completely turned around and became The complete opposite of the first, with Strycova racing into a 5-1 lead. The Czech brought up two set points but Watson remained focussed, saving both to keep her hopes of a straight sets win alive. A forehand down the line winner brought up break point but a netted volley let the chance slip by. After a slight blip the world number 23 regrouped to make for a remarkable turnaround as she took the second set 6-1.

Watson’s hopes of a second semifinal on home soil of the year and a first on the WTA Tour faded fast as Strycova broke the Brit once again in the third game of the final set. The Czech held on to lead to close in on victory up 4-2.

It was at that moment when the Brit bounced back and got the crowd renegagaed. Watson claimed four games in a row, closing with a forehand cross court passing shot winner to continue her best run at a WTA Tour level tournament this year.

Watson will face Caroline Wozniacki in the first semifinal of the day on Friday after the Dane recovered from a set and a double break down to see off second seed Simona Halep 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in another terrific battle.

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Anastasia Potapova beats Diana Schnaider to reach the second round in Madrid

Published

28 mins ago

24/04/2024

sampaolo

Anastasia Potapova beat Diana Schnaider 7-5 6-4 to reach the second round at the Madrid Mutua Open.

Potapova earned an early break in the first game and held serve at love to take a 2-0 lead. Schnaider, who won a WTA Tour title in Hin Hin, saved a break point in the third game. Schnaider broke back in the 10^th game to draw level to 5-5. Potapova broke for the second time in the 11^th game and served out at 15 in the 12^thgame.

Potapova converted her third break point in the first game of the second set. Schnaider broke back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Potapova saved five break points in the sixth game to hold serve before breaking in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Schnaider broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Potapova broke for the third time in the ninth game and sealed the win on her first match point.

Wang Xiyu came back from one set down to beat Ana Bogdan 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2. Wan Xiyu set up a second round match against Iga Swiatek.

Wang Xiyu broke serve in the second game to open up a 3-0 lead. The Chinese converted her sixth break point in the sixth game to open up a 5-1 lead. Bogdan pulled both breaks back to draw level to 5-5. Wang Xiyu opened up a 5-2 lead. Bogdan won five consecutive points to seal the tie-break 7-5. Wang Xiyu broke serve at 15 in the first game and held serve at 15 to open up a 2-0 lead. Bogdan broke back in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Wang Xiyu saved a match point in the 10^th game. Wang Xiyu went up a mini-break, but Bogdan pulled back on serve both times. Wang Xiyu won the final three points to seal the tie-break 7-4.

Wang Xiyu went up a 4-0 lead with two breaks in the third game. Bogdan pulled one of the two breaks back in the sixth game. Wang Xiyu broke serve in the eighth game on her second match point.

Karolina Schmiedlova beat Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-4. Schmiedlova broke serve at love in the second game and held serve to 30 to open up a 3-0 lead. Schmiedlova served out the first set 6-3 after saving two break points in the ninth game.

Schmiedlova broke serve at love in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Kenin broke back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2 lead. Schmiedlova broke at love in the eighth game before saving three break points to take a 5-3 lead. The Slovakian player served out the win on her first match point.

ATP

Rafael Nadal To Play Laver Cup In Berlin

Published

2 days ago

22/04/2024

Adam Addicott

Rafael Nadal has eased speculation that he might be retiring from the sport soon after signing on to play in the Laver Cup later this year.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is the latest player to join the line-up for this year’s team competition which features Europe taking on the rest of the world over three days. It will be Nadal’s fourth appearance in the competition and his first since 2022. He competed in the inaugural edition of the event back in 2017 alongside co-founder Roger Federer.

“I am very happy to be playing Laver Cup in Berlin for Team Europe,” Nadal said in a press release. “I have some really special memories from my Laver Cup experiences, including all the emotions from London two years ago playing alongside Roger for the last time.”

Nadal’s decision to play comes amid questions about his future in the sport. The former world No.1 has previously indicated that this year could be his last on the Tour but he has stated that no decision has been made. In recent months he has been sidelined from action due to injury setbacks and has only been able to play in two tournaments so far this year.

“At this stage in my career I really want to go out there and make the most of every opportunity I am given,” he explains.
“Teaming up is always an incredible experience and I have always enjoyed it, the competition is different and exciting. I’m looking forward to going to Berlin and helping Team Europe win back the Laver Cup.”

Other European players confirmed to be playing are Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul have agreed to play for Team World. This year’s event will be held in Belin at the Uber Arena between September 20-22.

The Laver Cup was inspired by golf’s Ryder Cup. It was co-founded by Federer’s Team8 management company (which he formed with agent Tony Godsick), businessman Jorge Paulo Lemann and Tennis Australia. In 2019 it became an official ATP sanction event and now has a place on the official calendar.

Nadal is set to return to competitive action at the Madrid Masters which he has won on five previous occasions. He has been drawn to play teenage wild card Darwin Blanch in the first round. If he wins, Nadal will then play Alex de Minaur who knocked him out of the Barcelona Open last week.

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Iga Swiatek beats Emma Raducanu to extend her winning streak to ten consecutive matches in Stuttgart

Published

4 days ago

20/04/2024

sampaolo

Two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek held off 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 after 2 hours and 3 minutes to extend her winning streak to 10 consecutive matches at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

Swiatek set up a semifinal match against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who came back from a break down in the third set to beat this year’s Dubai champion Jasmine Paolini.

Raducanu came back from 0-40 down to earn the first break of the opening set. Swiatek converted her third break point in the second game in a seven-deuce second game. Raducanu saved the only other break point at deuce in the sixth game. Swiatek won the first four points and five of the first six points to win the tie-break 7-2.

Swiatek earned five break points in the second, sixth and in the 12^thgame, but she converted only one opportunity. Raducanu converted her only break point in the first game. Swiatek won nine more points than Swiatek.

Swiatek broke Raducanu in the second game to open up a 2-0 lead. This break was decisive, as both players held on their next serve in their next games.

Swiatek earned six break points in the third, fifth and ninth games, but she converted one chance. The Pole did not face a single break point and won eight more points than Raducanu.

“Raducanu started playing at the beginning pretty loose, like she had nothing to lose, and I totally get that. Sometimes it is like that. I knew I was questioning if she is going to be able to keep the same intensity throughout the whole match. It was not about service games or return games. I was just waiting for my chances to break back and I was sure that I am going to get them”, said Swiatek.