World Number 82 Mona Barthel edged past Camila Giorgi after two tie-breaks 7-6 (7-0) 7-6 (8-6) after two hours to become the first player to reach the semifinal at the J&T Banka Prague Open. Barthel played better in the most important moments of the match.
Barthel got an early break in the first game of the opening set at deuce. Giorgi broke straight back in the next game. The set went on serve without any break point until the 11th game when Barthel converted her second break chance after Giorgi made a costly double fault. As Barthel was serving for the set, Giorgi broke straight back on her second break point chance to 15 in the 12th game to force the set to the tie-break. Barthel got an early mini-break at the start of the tie-break as Giorgi made a double fault to open up a 3-0 lead en route to winning it without dropping a point.
In the second set Giorgi broke serve in the third game to take a 2-1 lead as Barthel made a double fault. The Italian player rallied from 0-40 on Barthel’s serve to go a double break in the seventh game and opened up a 5-2 lead as Barthel made another double fault. She served for the match but Barthel got both breaks back to draw level to 5-5. After losing four consecutive games Giorgi served to stay in the match. She held her serve to force the set to the tie-break.
Giorgi raced out to a 5-1 in the second tie-break and earned three set points at 6-3. Barthel saved the first set point with a lob and the second chance after Giorgi made a backhand error. Giorgi made a down the line backhand error to waste the third set point.
Barthel converted her first match point at 7-6 to close out the second set after 59 minutes, as Giorgi sent a forheand long. Barthel and Giorgi are now tied 2-2 in their four head-to-head matches.
