Kasatkina into her maiden major semis at French Open at Kudermetova’s expense
Sports Desk, Jun 1 (EFE).- Daria Kasatkina on Wednesday needed five match points to get past Veronika Kudermetova and secure her maiden Grand Slam semifinal at the French Open.
The 20th-seed prevailed over her fellow Russian competitor 6-4, 7-6 in two hours and eight minutes to make the semifinal of a major for the first time, after two quarterfinals appearances in Paris and Wimbledon in 2018.
Since then, the 25-year-old did not get past the third round at a Grand Slam heading into the 2022 French Open, where she has yet to drop a set.
Kasatkina conceded her serve in the fourth game of the first set against a player she had defeated in their only previous head-to-head match, but she reacted in time to draw level at 3-3 apiece.
The former top-10 player, however, was the one who dealt the final blow, clinching the final three games, a service break included, to grab a one-set lead.
Kasatkina’s momentum continued in the second set as she was serving for the match at 5-4, but she conceded her delivery as the set headed into a tiebreaker.
Despite carving out a 6-1 lead in the tiebreaker, she lost four points in a row but a drop shot on the fifth match point sealed Kasatkina’s victory.
Kasatkina will play either world No. 1 Iga Swiatek or Jessica Pegula. EFE
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