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Tatjana Maria, 34, admitted she was nervous before going out on the court for her quarterfinal semifinal match versus Jule Niemeier but was glad that he was able to keep nerves under control and reach her maiden Grand Slam semifinal.
Maria, who returned from a second maternity leave a year ago, has now been through to her first Grand Slam semifinal after beating fellow German Niemeier 4-6 6-2 7-5. "It was a really tough match. It's always tough to play against a German girl.
I didn't know her really well. We never even practiced together. So it was something completely new," Maria said after the win, per the WTA website. "When I went on the court I was starting pretty nervous. I was really nervous. But, thank God, I came down and I find a little bit my game.
At the end we had an amazing match. It was amazing how at the end we shaked hands, gave each other a hug, and she was reacting amazing."
Maria created a big comeback to beat Niemeier
Niemeier took the advantage of Maria's shaky start to the match as she broke the 34-year-old in the first game of the match and then held on to her serve the rest of the set to win the opener.
After winning the first set, Niemeier broke Maria in the opening game of the second set and at that point she was up by a set and a break. Down by a set and a break, Maria suddenly started playing much better as she broke Niemeier three times in the rest of the set to overturn the deficit and force a decider.
Just like it was the case in the first and second sets, Niemeier was the first to claim in the third set as she broke Maria in the fifth game to open a 3-2 lead. However, Maria refused to quit, breaking back Niemeier in the eighth game to tie the set to four games apiece.
Maria saved a break point in the sixth game to open a 6-5 lead, before breaking Niemeier in the 12th game - when the 22-year-old was serving to stay in the match.