Kiki Bertens on course for hat-trick, Sam Stosur’s reign over
Two-time defending champion Kiki Bertens reached the quarter-final of the Nuremberg Cup, but Strasbourg Open defending champion Sam Stosur crashed out.
Bertens came from a set down to beat Mona Barthel from Germany 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 6-4.
.@KikiBertens‘ comeback is complete!
Downs Barthel 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-4 to reach @NuernbergerCup quarterfinals! pic.twitter.com/I3HhsJBhEB
— WTA (@WTA) May 24, 2018
The Dutchwoman will face Kirsten Flipkens, who beat Nadia Podoroska on Wednesday, for a place in the semi-final.
Meanwhile in Strasbourg, Stosur’s reign is over as she was suffered a 6-4, 6-3 loss to former Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova.
.@Cibulkova is through to the @WTA_Strasbourg semifinals!
⁰⁰Ousts reining champion Stosur 6-4, 6-3 pic.twitter.com/JQhbIrdewk
— WTA (@WTA) May 24, 2018
The Slovak, who broke twice in both sets, will play Mihaela Buzarnescu in the semi-final after the fourth-seeded Romanian beat Hsieh Su-wei 6-0, 6-3.
.@MickyBuzarnescu is through to the @WTA_Strasbourg semifinal with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Hsieh! pic.twitter.com/qgrwZ9LKZh
— WTA (@WTA) May 24, 2018
The other last-four match will feature Ashleigh Barty and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Top seed Barty from Australia beat Wang Qiang 7-5, 6-4 while third-seeded Russian Pavlyuchenkova secured a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Zarina Diyas.
Game set and match!@ashbar96 is into the @WTA_Strasbourg semifinals after a 7-5, 6-4 win over Wang! pic.twitter.com/QVYXsEpeoF
— WTA (@WTA) May 24, 2018
Barty, who has one WTA Tour title to her name, is yet to drop a set in Strasbourg this week.
