Bertens battles into Palermo semis

Kiki Bertens – the top seed – battled to a 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 win over her Italian opponent as she reached the semifinals in Sicily on Friday.

Kiki Bertens celebrating

Kiki Bertens moved within one victory of the WTA Palermo Open final after outlasting Jasmine Paolini.

Bertens – the top seed – battled to a 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 win over her Italian opponent as she reached the semifinals in Sicily on Friday.

World number five Bertens needed almost two hours to seal her spot in the final four, with the match finishing past 01:00am (local time).

Next up for Bertens is Spaniard Paula Badosa who made light work of Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-1.

.@kikibertens rounds out the @LadiesOpenPA semifinalists!

Moves past Paolini 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 pic.twitter.com/jwWO0IV0VB

— WTA (@WTA) July 26, 2019

 

Russian lucky loser Liudmila Samsonova stunned seventh seed Fiona Ferro in a marathon 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-4 victory, while eighth seed Jil Teichmann advanced after Anna-Lena Friedsam retired due to injury when trailing 6-0, 1-0.

At the Baltic Open, sixth seed Anastasia Potapova reached the semifinals with a 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 win over Patricia Maria Tig.

Top seed and home favourite Anastasija Sevastova was too good for Irina Bara 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, Katarzyna Kawa beat Chloe Paquet 6-2, 6-2 and Bernarda Pera trumped Nina Stojanovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.