Former French Open finalist Sara Errani kicked off her Claro Open Colsanitas campaign in commanding style, while last year’s champion Irina Falconi saw her title defense cut short in the first round.
No.6 seed Victoria Azarenka has been forced to pull out of the upcoming Wimbledon Championships due to a knee injury.
Top seed Barbora Strycova survived another late push from a rising star to advance to the last eight in Biel/Bienne.
EASTBOURNE, Great Britain – Monica Puig enjoyed another stellar win in the quarterfinals of the Aegon International, outlasting Kristina Mladenovic, 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3, to reach the semifinals in Eastbourne.
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The Puerto Rican starlet needed to qualify just to reach the main draw in Eastbourne, but has played incredible tennis this week, Mladenovic in an over two hour epic.
“I don’t think today was the same quality match as yesterday,” Puig said, referring to her thrilling win over former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki on Wednesday. “I missed a little bit more, there were more double faults, felt like a million to me, but, you know, the most important thing is I was able to put those behind me and just keep focusing on what I had to do next, which is very important.
“I always try to stay as positive as possible, but it definitely does feel good to get this win under my belt and move into the semis.”
Puig was the only one to finish her quarterfinal on a rainy Thursday in Eastbourne. Top seed Agnieszka Radwanska edged ahead by a set and a break over rival Dominika Cibulkova before their match was ultimately washed out, and Karolina Pliskova was on fire to start her quarterfinal against 2013 champion Elena Vesnina – losing three points in the first four and a half games – before their match was also halted.
In another jam-packed order of play, the quarterfinals and semifinals are set to conclude on Friday, leading of with Radwanska and Cibulkova on Centre Court, followed by the quarterfinal encounter between No.11 seed Johanna Konta and Ekaterina Makarova, who finished off Andrea Petkovic, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 on Thursday.
Can World No.1 Serena Williams find that Wimbledon magic and complete her quest to match Stefanie Graf’s Open Era record of 22 major titles? Will No.2 Garbiñe Muguruza set aside any French Open hangover to complete the Channel Slam? Or is there another champion lying in wait?
WTA Insider Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen is joined by Reem Abulleil, tennis reporter for Sport360.com, to dissect the draw and preview the third major of the year.
Check out the champion’s shot of the day from the Ladies Open Biel Bienne.
Check out the best shots of the week at the Ladies Open Biel Bienne.
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Annika Beck snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to end British No.2 Heather Watson’s Wimbledon hopes for another year.
Qualifier Jana Cepelova pulled off a stunning upset for the second straight year at the All England Club, ousting French Open champ and No.2 seed Garbiñe Muguruza in straight sets.