Google News Libema Open: Veronika Kudermetova takes spot in SF; injury halts Liudmila Samsonova
by ABBEY JOHNSON
Swiss Celine Naef’s spirited run at the Libema Open came to an end in the quarter-finals on Friday. Veronika Kudermetova, the highest seed in the draw, defeated the 17-year-old 6-3, 6-2 after 75 minutes of play. Kudermetova won 80% of her first-serve points and 58% of her second-serve points.
She also won 60% points on return on Nae’s second serve. Kudermetova saved two of the three break points she faced while converting four of eight break points that came her way. Kudermetova will now play Viktorija Hruncakova for a chance to reach the final.
Hruncakova defeated Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 17 minutes in their quarter-final clash. The 25-year-old hit nine aces and won 79% of her first-serve points. She also won 71% of her second-serve points and won 50% points on return on the American’s serve.
Throughout the match, Hruncakova didn’t face any break point and converted two break points, one across each set, on Krueger’s serve. This is the second time in her career that Hruncakova’s made it this far in the Dutch tournament.
Back in 2018, as a 20-year-old she’d reached the semis. That time, she’d been competing under her maiden name of Viktorija Kuzmova. That year, she lost the semi-final to Kirsten Flipkens, who eventually lost the final to Aleksandra Krunic.
Libema Open: Ekaterina Alexandrova marches on
Ekaterina Alexandrova went on to take one more step closer to her title defence. The fourth seed beat Emina Bektas 6-4, 6-4 in 74 minutes in their quarter-final match-up. Alexandrova won 80% of her first-serve points and converted three of five break points on Bektas’ serve.
Of the two break points she faced, both of which came in the second set, Alexandrova was able to save only one. Her next opponent will be seventh seed Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Sasnovich advanced to the semi-finals of the Libema Open following the mid-match retirement of her opponent, second seed Liudmila Samsonova.
Samsonova, who’d been dealing with an injury to her left thigh all through her first matches here, wasn’t able to continue any further in the tournament. Finally, with Sasnovich leading 7-6(4), 3-1 in their clash, Samsonova decided to call time. Photo Credit: Clive Mason/Getty