By Tennis Now | Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Monica Puig withstood 11 aces from Alison Van Uytvanck edging the Belgian qualifier, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (1), to advance to the Luxembourg Open quarterfinals.
Photo credit: BGL BNP Paribas Open
Monica Puig continued her Luxembourg run.
The Olympic gold medal champion withstood 11 aces from Alison Van Uytvanck edging the Belgian qualifier, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (1), to advance to the Luxembourg Open quarterfinals.
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It is Puig’s first quarterfinal appearance since Acapulco in March
The 69th-ranked Puerto Rican, who toppled top-seeded Angelique Kerber in the opening round, will face Naomi Broady for a spot in the final four.
The British lucky loser fought off two match points winning 10 of the last 13 games to rally past former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Broady hit nine aces against eight double faults in a two hour, 11-minute victory.
The 129th-ranked Broady, who has played primarily at the ITF Challenger level in recent months, is through to her first Tour-level quarterfinal since the 2016 Kuala Lumpur when she fought off Lisicki in three sets before bowing to Genie Bouchard in the semifinals.
Broady beat Puig in their most recent meetings at the Rogers Cup last year.
It was a good day for Great Britain as Heather Watson was a 6-4, 6-4 victory over third-seeded Anett Kontaveit.
Watson will play Elise Mertens for a semifinal spot. The fifth-seeded Mertens defeated Madison Brengle, 6-2, 0-6, 6-3.
Johanna Larsson dispatched seventh-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2. Larsson will face French qualifier Pauline Parmentier in the quarterfinals.