In a thrilling Round of 16 match at the Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic defeated top seed Jessica Pegula 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-4 on Thursday. Krunic, who won the tournament in 2018 and is currently ranked No. 400 in the world, capitalized on Pegula’s rustiness as she played her first tournament since April due to neck and back injuries. Krunic saved 5 of 7 break points and won 81.2 percent of her first-service points in a grueling two-hour, 44-minute contest.
Krunic will face Hungary’s Dalma Galfi in the quarterfinals. Galfi also caused an upset, defeating No. 5 seed Veronika Kudermetova of Russia 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
Elsewhere at the Libema Open, No. 2 seed Liudmila Samsonova of Russia beat Switzerland’s Celine Naef 7-5, 6-2, while No. 3 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated Emina Bektas 7-5, 6-4. American teenager Robin Montgomery triumphed over Germany’s Jule Niemeier 6-3, 6-3.
Raducanu Dominates Snigur at Rothesay Open
At the Rothesay Open in Nottingham, England, 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu showcased her prowess, smashing 11 aces and defeating Ukrainian Daria Snigur 6-2, 6-2 in the Round of 16. Raducanu saved seven of eight break points, delighting the home crowd with her dominant performance.
Raducanu might face fellow Brit Francesca Jones in the quarterfinals, but Jones’ match against Ashlyn Krueger was suspended due to rain. Jones was serving for the match with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-5, 30-30 lead when play was halted.
In other completed matches, No. 5 seed Magdalena Frech of Poland came from behind to beat Germany’s Tatjana Maria 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. The match between No. 1 seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia and Czech Linda Fruhvirtova was postponed until Friday due to weather conditions.
