Monterrey, Mexico
After a thrilling quarterfinal Thursday that saw a pair of three set battles, the semifinals are set at WTA Monterrey, the Abierto GNP Seguros. All of the remaining players having faced off at least once before in their careers.
Diana Shnaider Recovers from 5-1 Down in Third Set and Saves Match Points to Upset Mertens
In a matchup of players separated by just one ranking spot on the WTA Tour (22 vs 21), it was Diana Shnaider who survived the heat both physically and mentally to achieve a remarkable comeback against veteran Elise Mertens 3-6 7-6(6) 7-6(4). Shnaider was battling the conditions and her own form as she struggling on serve in the first set. In the second set she faced a match point on her own serve, after failing to consolidate her own break of serve late in the set.
Mertens would not get another match point, but came remarkably close to finishing the match in both the second and third set, despite seizing up at critical moments and failing to secure the win. In the second set tiebreak, both players failed to hold their serve three times each, and Shnaider would eventually convert her second set point 8-6 with the decisive minibreak.
Mertens began the third set looking unfazed by that setback, she built a 5-1 lead and looked set for the semis, then the collapse began. Steady and locked in, Shnaider saved four additional match points in a very long game at 5-2, she broke Mertens in that game, and then once more for 5-5 in a long service game in the third. The set ended up in a tiebreak, one that Mertens played poorly losing it 7-4 after Shnaider had built a 5-2 lead.
This match was surely one of the greatest escapes on the WTA Tour this season, as Mertens was at one point serving up 5-2 in the third and 40-0. The win a huge boost for the confidence of Shnaider. The question she faces is whether she can recover quickly from a three set, three hour match, played in extreme heat.
Marie Bouzkova Continues Summer of Success, Faces Alexandrova in Semifinals
Marie Bouzkova made it 10 wins in 11 matches, dominating on serve in an hour and a half victory 6-3 6-2 over Antonia Ruzic. The 2020 finalist in Monterrey has dialed back the years and has looked incredibly formidable this week. Her semifinal opponent is Ekaterina Alexandrova, the world #14 defeated Linda Noskova in a challenging contest 7-6(5) 4-6 6-2. In a match that featured athleticism and great baseline hitting, Alexandrova finally gained the advantage but it took her a while. The second set saw Noskova temporarily gain an advantage with great baseline punching but Alexandrova would lock in in the third.
It’s the second consecutive semifinal in Monterrey for Alexandrova, she’s reached five WTA semifinals this season and against Bouzkova will be aiming to break a street of four consecutive semifinal defeats.
Noskova and her doubles partner Rebecca Sramkova both lost in the quarterfinals of singles, they will play their doubles semifinal on Friday against defending champion Hanyu Guo and fellow doubles specialist Alexandra Panova. Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Cristina Bucsa await the winner, having already advanced to the doubles final.
Alycia Parks Exudes Confidence in win over Sramkova
Relishing the opportunity to play in front of a supportive Mexican crowd, Alycia Parks continued to demonstrate her talent this week in Monterrey, 6-2 7-5 she defeated Rebecca Sramkova in a match she always had the upper hand in. Parks won the first five games of the match and later led 4-1 and 5-2 in the second set. Sramkova rallied late, forcing it back to 5-5 but Parks would break in the final game of the match, converting her second match point to get the victory.
It’s the first semifinal for Parks since Auckland, and just the third of her career (reached the Lyon final in 2023). Parks has played this week with extra emotion and purpose, she’s dedicated this tournament to her late grandmother, and clearly believes she has the game to win this title and continue her solid form at the US Open. Parks faces Diana Shnaider in the semifinals in their third meeting in 2025. Both previous meetings came on hard courts, Shnaider had a routine win at Indian Wells, while a month prior it was Parks defeating Shnaider in Doha. All is to be determined on semifinal Friday.
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images xAntonioxOjedax
