Julia Goerges and Eugenie Bouchard into Luxembourg semi-final
Top seed Julia Goerges and Eugenie Bouchard secured their places in the Luxembourg Open semi-finals with contrasting wins.
Wimbledon semi-finalist Goerges required three sets to beat Donna Vekic 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour and 50 minutes.
Sending down an ace for the win!
Top seed @juliagoerges moves past Vekic 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to reach @WTAluxembourg semifinals. pic.twitter.com/Qy0b5KVfdd
— WTA (@WTA) October 18, 2018
She will take on qualifier Bouchard for a place in the final after the Canadian advanced to the last four when Andrea Petkovic retired with a leg injury.
Petkovic won the opening set 6-4, but Bouchard broke in the second game of the second set to take a 2-0 lead before the German called for the trainer.
They played two more games before Petkovic retired.
“It’s unfortunate that she had to retire – and I know the feeling, I’ve had to do the same a few times in the past,” Bouchard said after the match. “It’s the worst feeling as an athlete, to not be able to play anymore. I’m very sad for her and I hope that she can start next year strong.
“It’s weird to win this way, it doesn’t feel amazing. But I’ll wake up tomorrow in the semifinals and be excited to have another chance.”
Belinda Bencic and teenager Dayana Yastremska will square off in the other semi-final after Swiss qualifier Bencic beat Vera Lapko 6-4, 6-1.
The 18-year-old Yastremska, who won the Hong Kong Open last week, secured a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Margarita Gasparyan.
More from Tennis365:
Johnny Nic on why Jamie, and not Andy Murray, is the most successful player in his family
Jack Draper on his ‘surreal’ Wimbledon run, his idol Andy Murray and the future
Judy Murray calls on young Tennis365 readers to join her on court in Portugal this month
Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou: Time to allow on-court coaching at Grand Slams
Tennis Today: Rafael and Novak Djokovic ‘risking their good name’
To return to the top, Novak Djokovic had to rediscover what got him there in the first place