HAMBURG/STARNBERG, November 2, 2024
Four match points missed and only 13 per cent of break chances converted—normally, such stats would end in a loss for most tennis players. But not for Mona Barthel. The 34-year-old German fought past Barbora Palicova from the Czech Republic 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) in Saturday’s semi-finals of the Hamburg Henssler at Home Ladies Cup.
“It was an incredibly close match with so many ups and downs, and it really could have gone either way. I’m thrilled to be in the final tomorrow,” Barthel shared after the game.
The deciding set was packed with drama, as both players fought fiercely to secure each point. Barthel, often controlling rallies from the baseline, generated multiple break points. However, her young Czech opponent displayed relentless resilience, repeatedly countering Barthel’s shots and saving match points at 4-5. The intensity continued into the tie-break, where Barthel missed two more match points, but finally clinched the win on her fifth opportunity, celebrating with a fist pump in relief and triumph.
In Sunday’s final, Barthel will face Sonay Kartal, the top-seeded Brit who had a much easier time defeating Finland’s Anastasia Kulikova, 6-3, 6-2. In-form Kartal, who already captured six titles on the ITF Pro Circuit as well as one title on the WTA Tour at the Jasmin Open in Tunisia this year, affirmed her favorite status in the ITF World Tennis Tour W75 hard-court tournament. Looking ahead to the final, the 23-year-old said, “I’m looking forward to the final. With the home crowd behind her, Mona will have a slight advantage, but I hope I can disrupt the party.”
In other action, Madeleine Brooks and Isabelle Haverlag claimed the doubles title. The British-Dutch duo India’s Riya Bhatia and the Netherlands’ Lian Tran 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour.
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