Abierto GNP Seguros (Monterrey Open) - a WTA International category tournament, on Hard Decoturf, at Club Sonoma in Monterrey, Mexico, 1-7 April 2019.
Defending champion:
Garbiñe Muguruza (1) who defeated Tímea Babos (4) 3-6 6-4 6-3
Monterrey
Quarter finals
- Magdaléna Rybáriková (8) defeated Sachia Vickery 6-4 6-4
- Garbiñe Muguruza (2) defeated Kiki Mladenovic (7) 6-1 7-6(5)
- Angie Kerber (1) defeated Kirsten Flipkens (6) 6-2 6-4
- Vika Azarenka (5) defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (3) 6-0 6-4
Semi final match ups
Angie Kerber (1) v Vika Azarenka (5)
Magdaléna Rybáriková (8) v Garbiñe Muguruza (2)
Volvo Car Open (Charleston Open) - a WTA Premier category tournament, on Green Clay, in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, 1-7 April 2019.
Defending champion:
Kiki Bertens (12) who defeated Julia Goerges (5) 6-2 6-1
Charleston
Quarter finals
- Belinda Bencic (9) v Petra Martic (16)
Martic cracked the top 50 as far back as 2011-2012, but a back injury a few years later forced her out of tennis for ten months, and her ranking dropped to 662 in April 2017. Since then the Croatian, who contemplated retirement because of the injury, has lifted her ranking to a career high of 31 in January this year, and entered Charleston just outside the top 50. With a quarter final appearance here, top 50 re-entry is guaranteed.
Naturally her aspiration is greater, but Bencic would be a huge challenge, especially considering the Swiss player had only spent 190 minutes on court to reach the quarter final stage. Martic had spent 313 minutes in winning her three matches.
Martic served first and held serve, an ace sealing the game. Then Bencic faced two break points, following two good down the line shots from Martic. One was a backhand forcing Bencic into error, the other a forehand finished off with a put away at the net. The first break chance disappeared, but a loose Swiss forehand presented Martic with a flying start 2-0.
The remainder of the set was a tight contest, played at a high standard, both players covering the court well. Martic often moved forward to shorten a point and Bencic was as ever constructing her points smartly. The pair were confident on serve, and neither were taken to deuce for the next six games, in fact the last three were love games on serve. Still, Bencic was down that early break.
Serving for the set at 5-3, Martic was, for the first time, subject to pressure at the line. We finally were witness to a long game in this match.
A double fault wasn’t the ideal start, but the next two points gave Martic 30-15. A forehand down the line set up a winner for Bencic, and she repeated the play to produce break point. It was saved through a drop shot. Martic wasted a set point before Bencic forced another error, and a second break chance. An outstanding Croatian forehand cross court winner saved that. The third break point came from a Bencic down the line winner. Saved with a deep forehand. A second set point arrived and Bencic sent a backhand wide. The set was Martic’s 6-3.
Set two began with four service holds and 2-2, Bencic delivering two love games. That meant four love games on serve in succession for the ninth seed. However the run was stopped in the fifth game.
A forehand pass from Martic was met with a forehand winner from Bencic and 30-15. Two netted Swiss forehands brought up break point. A double fault confirmed the break and Martic led 3-2 with serve to come. A love game to consolidate the break. 4-2.
Bencic survived three deuces to stay in contact at 3-4, but Martic was not in the mood to drop serve today, and she moved easily to 5-3, a game away from the semis.
As she had done for most of the match, Bencic produced a solid service game, presenting Martic the opportunity to serve out the match at 5-4.
Martic, with a big first serve had 30-15. Then a beautifully developed point, pushing Bencic way out of court and moving to the net to control things, produced two match points. One went by with a backhand floating long, but the second chance saw Bencic put a backhand out and the match was over.
Petra Martic played a sensational quarter final to win 6-3 6-4.
- Caroline Wozniacki (5) defeated Maria Sakkari (15) 6-2 6-2
- Madison Keys (8) defeated Sloane Stephens (1) 7-6(6) 4-6 6-2
- Monica Puig defeated Danielle Collins (11) 6-3 6-2
Semi final match ups
Madison Keys (8) v Monica Puig
Petra Martic (16) v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
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