Google News
All but one seed playing the quarter-finals were knocked out at the Merida Open on Thursday. The sole seed to survive the trend of upsets was fourth seed Karolina Muchova. The Czech came through her last-eight match-up against seventh seed Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 6-1, 5-7, 6-0.
Muchova needed an hour and 57 minutes to get the win. Muchova won 68% of her first-serve points to the Italian’s 46%. Both players struggled to do well on their second serves though. Muchova won 10 of 26 points played on her second serve while Cocciaretto could win only eight of 20 second-serve points.
Muchova lost her serve only in the second set. She went on to convert eight break points – including three in the second set – on Cocciaretto’s serve.
Merida Open: Camila Giorgi's stunner
Muchova’s next opponent will be another Italian, Camila Giorgi.
Giorgi needed just 47 minutes to get the better of second seed Sloane Stephens, 6-0, 6-0. Giorgi won 90% of her first-serve points despite putting only 69% of her first-serves in. In comparison, the American whose first-serve percentage was 81% could only win 37% of her first-serve points.
Giorgi also won 68% of her second-serve points and 75% of points on return on Stephens’ second serve. The 31-year-old didn’t face any break point and converted six break points on the former US Open champion’s serve.
Rebecca Peterson, the qualifier from Sweden ousted top seed Magda Linette in their quarter-final match. Peterson completed a 6-2, 6-4 win after an hour and 47 minutes. Peterson won 68% of her first-serve points to the Pole’s 59% an 50% of her second-serve points to the latter’s 44%.
She dropped her serve only once in the match, in the second set but converted four of seven break points on Linette’s serve. Rebecca Peterson’s semi-final opponent at the Merida Open will be fellow qualifier, Kimberly Birrell.
The Australian won against Cathy McNally in an hour and 45 minutes, 6-4, 6-3. Photo Credit: Merida Open Twitter