NÜRNBERG, May 23, 2019
The semi-finals of the Nürnberger Versicherungscup are set led by top seed Yulia Putintseva, who outlasted German wild card entry Anna-Lena Friedsam, winning 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) in the longest match of the tournament’s history.
The World No. 39 from Kazakhstan capitalized on four of her 11 break point chances to prevail after three hours and 21 minutes, also being the longest match of the 2019 WTA season to date.
WHAT AN EPIC MATCH!!! 😍😍😍🎾💪 Anna-Lena #Friedsam and @PutintsevaYulia played the longest match of the @WTA in 2019: 3:21 Hours. 🙈🎉👌 A real rollercaster, pure dynamite! Putintseva moved to the semis (7:5, 6:7 (5), 7:6 (2)). Well done ladies!! #welovetennis ❤️ pic.twitter.com/LtfkCxbzWh
— NürnbergerCup (@NuernbergerCup) 23. Mai 2019
“The match was definitely huge,” Putintseva told the media, after the match. “I was just trying to fight until the end, trying to focus and try to win every point that I can, and I think in the end that’s what helped me to win.”
The 24-year-old Moscow native will next take on Sorana Cirstea of Romania, who rallied from a set down to overcome Serbian qualifier Nina Stojovanovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Later on Thursday, No. 2 seed Katerina Siniakova also had to go the distance against US-American Madison Brengle. The World No. 43 from the Czech Republic won 53 per cent of the total points played to secure a 1-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory in one hour and 29 minutes.
Up next for Siniakova will be Tamara Zidansek from Slovenia, who battled past Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova, winning 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in two hours and eight minutes.
