Ekaterina Alexandrova upsets defending champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter finals in Seoul - UBITENNIS

Ekaterina Alexandrova upsets defending champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter finals in Seoul

By sampaolo
2 Min Read
zimbio.com

World number 122 Ekaterina Alexandrova upset 2017 Roland Garros champion and defending champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 6-2 after 71 minutes in a match delayed by rain to clinch the first top 10 win of her career at the KEB Hana Bank in Seoul.

Before today’s match Alexandrova has never won in her three head-to-head matches against to-10 players. Alexandrova converted five of her eight break point chances and won 79 first serve points.

The 23-year-old Russian player set up a tough semifinal clash against Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Su-wei, who lifted the Hiroshima last week.

Ostapenko held serve in the first game with two consecutive aces, but she dropped her serve after a double fault. Alexandrova saved a break point to hold serve for a 3-1 lead. Ostapenko broke back in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3, as Alexandrova made a double fault. Alexandrova came back from 15-40 down to break again on her second chance with a forehand crosscourt winner.

Alexandrova earned three set points at 5-3, when Ostapenko hit a backhand wide. The Russian player hit a crosscourt backhand return winner to break serve at love.

In the second set Alexandrova got a break to open up a 3-1 lead, when Ostapenko made one of six double faults on the break point. Alexandrova held her serve to race out to a 4-1 lead after a hard-fought game. She hit a forehand winner to hold her serve for 5-2 in the seventh game and earned three match points with another forehand winner. She converted her first chance with a backhand return winner.

“I think it was a good match. I played well, and she also played well. I am just happy it worked out like this”, said Alexandrova.

Irina Camelia Begu beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 6-3 to reach her third quarter finals this year.Number 2 seed Kiki Bertens edged past Jakupovic Dalila 6-4 7-5.

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