By Erik Gudris | Thursday, March 19, 2015

 

Sabine Lisicki saved three match points as she beat defending champion Flavia Pennetta at Indian Wells.

Photo Credit: Christopher Levy

A first time meeting at the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals on Thursday soon provided an enthralling encounter that proved too close to call.

In the end, Germany's Sabine Lisicki outlasted defending champion Flavia Pennetta to reach the semifinals.

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"It's such a great feeling. And to be a part of such a good match," a smiling and tearful Lisicki said afterwards on court.

Lisicki's big serve and shotmaking prowess matched up against the steady all-court game from the veteran Italian. Yet it was shaky serving and errors from Pennetta that soon helped Lisicki earn a 5-3 lead in the first set.

Pennetta later struck another errant forehand to give her opponent the set 6-4.

Yet the Italian bounced back early in the second set by taking a 2-0 lead. That was short-lived as Lisicki recovered and looked ready to finish the match in two sets. Lisicki, up 5-4, used her big forehand to create a match point. Pennetta saved it with a flashy backhand of her own and soon it was 5-all.

The set entered a tiebreak with Lisicki committing early errors that gave Pennetta a quick lead. Pennetta would prove better in the rallies and soon marched to her chair with the set 7-6(3) and new life.

The final set proved a complete toss-up as neither woman wavered. Despite a high unforced error count from both, Lisicki and Pennetta stayed level with each other as the tension slowly grew.

Up 5-4, Pennetta put pressure on Lisicki's next service game with the Italian making big returns early to set up winning points. That tactic created two match points for Pennetta. Lisicki saved both with fine serving but then faced another match point soon enough. Pennetta sent a forehand well long on her next chance to win the match. Lisicki calmly held for 5-all.

Ultimately, a final set tiebreak was needed as the engaged stadium crowd cheered on both women for what they hoped would be a dramatic conclusion. Instead, the tiebreak proved an error-filled one from both players. Lisicki held on to a slim early lead with Pennetta now unable to put together enough winners to catch up.

Lisicki didn't waste any time when she finally held her second match point up 6-4 in the tiebreak. With a well-timed ace, Lisicki sank to her knees in celebration of the hard-fought 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-6(4) victory.

"She saved a match point in the second set with an unbelievable backhand. I saved two match points in the third set. And it was unbelievable feeling to play in front of you," Lisicki added.

"I think it was a really good match. We played really well the third set both, and was a good fight until the last point. Everything happened tonight. Match point for one, match point for the other one," Pennetta said later. "But I think was really good match for the crowd, for everything, for us."

The result was a special one for Lisicki consider her tough start to the season. The German had lost five opening round matches in previous events before Indian Wells. By reaching the semifinals, Lisicki is now projected to return to the top 20.

Lisicki will now face Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals. Top seed Serena Williams takes on Simona Halep in the second semifinal on Friday.