Sep 1, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia serves against Arnya Sabalenka of Belarus (not pictured) on day three of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Tamara Zidansek rallied from a set and a break down, then saved four match points to outlast Nadia Podoroska of Argentina 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) in the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open in Hua Hin.
The Slovenian needed three hours and 41 minutes to complete the feat, making it the fourth-longest match of the season in a WTA main-draw event, Podoroska, up 5-4, 40-0 in the third set, had three match points, but Zidansek broke serve after winning an 18-shot rally. Serving for the match at 6-5, Podoroska couldn’t cash in on the opportunity, with Zidansek hitting a return winner to fight off the match point.
In the semifinals, Zidansek — who has fought injuries and illnesses over the past two seasons — will face Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia, who beat Croatian Jana Fett 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
In the other semifinal, Germany’s Laura Siegemund will play Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands. Siegemund ousted Rebeka Masarova of Spain 6-3, 6-4, while Hartono beat Mai Hontama of Japan 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Korea Open
Rain wiped out the day’s action in Seoul, with the singles quarterfinals and doubles semifinals postponed until Saturday.
The four Saturday singles matches feature:
–No. 3 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil vs. Polina Kudermetova of Russia
–Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria vs. Veronika Kudermetova of Russia
–No. 1 Daria Kasatkina of Russia vs. Emma Raducanu of Great Britain
–No. 4 Diana Shnaider of Russia vs. No. 5 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine
With wins, the Kudermetova sisters would clash in the semifinals.
–Field Level Media
