Daria Kasatkina, the No. 5 seed, triumphed in a nail-biting quarterfinal at the Ningbo Open, marking her sixth semifinal appearance of 2024. In a match that lasted 2 hours and 41 minutes, she fought hard to overcome Yulia Putintseva, saving two match points in a tense tiebreak to secure a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(6) victory. Despite trailing at various points in the match, including 4-1 in the first set and 4-2 in the deciding set, Kasatkina demonstrated her resilience and determination to clinch the win, improving her head-to-head record against Putintseva to 2-1.
Mirra Andreeva also advanced to the semifinals after No. 4 seed Barbora Krejcikova retired while trailing 7-6(5), 3-2. The 17-year-old Andreeva is now set to compete in her third semifinal of the season, showcasing her impressive talent and poise on the court. Her progress adds to a remarkable season, further establishing her as a rising star in women’s tennis.
Reflecting on her challenging match, Kasatkina admitted, “I didn't want three sets, for sure. But I was expecting something like that because whenever I play against Yulia, something like that happens.” She acknowledged the uphill battle she faced throughout the match, yet remained confident in her ability to make a comeback. “Tennis is like that. If you fight, 99% of the time you get your chance,” she noted, emphasizing the high level of competition during the match.
In the upcoming semifinals, Kasatkina will face either No. 6 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia or No. 8 seed Paula Badosa, while Andreeva will go up against either No. 7 seed Anna Kalinskaya or Karolina Muchova. Although Kasatkina struggled with certain statistics, such as winning fewer points and committing more unforced errors than Putintseva, she managed to elevate her game during crucial moments. Her aggressive play and remarkable forehand were instrumental in her victory, proving that mental strength and tactical adjustments can prevail even when the odds appear stacked against her.
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