The quarter-finals have been set at the Copa Colsanitas. The round-of-16 was played across two days with the four remaining seeds coming through, led by second seed Tatjana Maria. Maria defeated Carolina Alves of Brazil 6-2, 6-4 in their second-round match on Wednesday.
The German needed an hour and 42 minutes to claim the win. The 35-year-old saved four of the five break points she faced and converted four break points on Alves’ serve. She won 62% of her first-serve points and 69% of her second-serve points.
In the quarters, Maria will play another Nuria Brancaccio. The Italian, a qualifier into the main draw, defeated fellow qualifier, Austria’s Sinja Kraus 6-2, 6-2 in just 57 minutes. For Brancaccio, who’s ranked 206th in the world, this is the maiden appearance in the quarter-finals of a WTA tournament.
Copa Colsanitas: Kamilla Rakhimova too good for Eugenie Bouchard
Fourth seed Kamilla Rakhimova got through Eugenie Bouchard to reach the quarters in the Colombian capital on Wednesday. Rakhimova needed two hours and 20 minutes to beat the former world no.
4, 6-0, 6-7(7), 6-4. In the second set, Rakhimova had two match points but wasn’t able to convert either. In the deciding set, Rakhimova converted the lone break point that came her way on the Canadian’s serve to clinch the win.
Rakhimova will take on seventh seed Sara Sorribes Tormo next. The Spaniard won her second-round match on Thursday against hometown wildcard, Emiliana Arango. Tormo needed an hour and 47 minutes to score a 6-4, 6-3 victory on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Laura Pigossi, the Brazilian sixth seed also advanced to the quarter-finals. Pigossi needed three sets and three hours and 16 minutes to get past qualifier Natalija Stevanovic of Serbia. Pigossi prevailed 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.
Looking to reach the semis, Pigossi will play Francesca Jones. Jones beat Carol Zhao 6-2, 6-1 to make it to the quarter-finals of a WTA tournament for the first time in her career. Lastly, Tamara Zidansek and Peyton Stearns will play each other in the quarters at the Copa Colsanitas.
Both players won their round-of-16 matches on Thursday. Zidansek beat Mirjam Bjorklund 7-6(3), 7-6(3). Stearns got past Elina Avanesyan, 6-4, 6-1.