Caroline Garcia and Donna Vekic hit the semis, but Maria Sakkari out

Shahida Jacobs 15 Jun 2019 9:56 AM

Top seed Caroline Garcia and third seed Donna Vekic claimed contrasting wins to reach the semi-finals of the Nature Valley Open, but Maria Sakkari is out.

The traditional Wimbledon grass-court warm-up event had to be moved to an indoor hard-court facility due to poor weather, but most of the players have adapted well.

Frenchwoman Garcia came from a set down to beat Gabriela Ruse as she secured a 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 victory in just under two hours.

Comeback complete!@CaroGarcia defeats qualifier Ruse 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1

To move on to the #NatureValleyOpen semifinals. pic.twitter.com/ALDggND0uf

— WTA (@WTA) June 14, 2019

“[Ruse is] a young player, she’s probably on her way up,” Garcia told WTANews.com. “She went for her shots, she’s very aggressive, solid on both sides.”

She added: “I was ready for a fight and I definitely got it, so I’m very happy with the way I fight and kept believing in myself.”

Garcia will face Jennifer Brady for a place in the final after the unseeded American accounted for fourth seed Sakkari’s exit as she beat the Greek 7-5, 6-3.

“I haven’t played a point yet on grass…but there’s nothing you can do. You can’t control the weather. I’m really happy with the way that I competed today,” Brady said.

“I had a bit of a slow start. She started very well. She was playing really aggressive, taking my serves early and cracking returns. She made me feel the pressure a bit, but I was happy with the way I hung in there and I was able to close it out on serve.”

Third seed Vekic had a more straightforward day as she beat eighth seed Kristina Mladenovic 7-5, 6-4 to set up a semi-final encounter with Tatjana Maria, who defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 7-6 (9-7).

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