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Of the four semi-finalists at the Rothesay Open, Alize Cornet’s the only non-British semi-finalist. The Frenchwoman defeated Elizabeth Mandlik 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 14 minutes in the quarter-finals. The match between Cornet and Mandlik was also the only match that didn’t feature a Briton.
Cornet hit five double faults and two aces while her American opponent had none in either category. The 33-year-old also won 71% of her first-serve points to the qualifier’s 53%. Both players won 14 points each out of the 30 points played on their second serve.
Cornet saved four of eight break point she faced while converting six of nine break points she had on Mandlik’s serve. Cornet will play Jodie Burrage next. The Briton won her quarter-final match against Magdalena Frech, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 21 minutes.
This was the second match in a row that Burrage won against a Pole. Earlier in the second round, she’d upset third seed Magda Linette. Burrage won 70% of her first-serve points to Frech’s 65%. She also won 49% of her second-serve points to Frech’s 43%.
Burrage faced 13 break points and saved 10 of these. Frech also faced 13 break points and saved eight of these. This is the first time the 24-year-old, ranked 131st in the world, made it to the semi-finals of a WTA tournament.
Rothesay Open: Heather Watson and Katie Boulter have set up a derby
In the bottom half, Heather Watson beat Viktorija Golubic in the quarters. Watson needed two hours and 17 minutes to come through 7-6(2), 7-5. Watson won 69% of her first-serve points to the Swiss’ 61%.
She also won 63% of her second-serve points to her opponent’s 52%. Both players combined to face 14 break points but the match featured only three breaks in total. Watson saved six of the seven break points she faced while converting two of seven break points on Golubic’s serve.
Watson will now play compatriot Katie Boulter for a spot in the Rothesay Open final. Boulter won her quarter-final clash against fellow Briton, Harriet Dart, 6-3, 7-5 in an hour and 43 minutes.